Australia has regained the initiative against S. Africa: Hussey
Brisbane, Jan. 14 : Australian batsman Mike Hussey believes his side has got back to its winning ways over South Africa, and added that the home side has drawn enormous self-belief from beating the tourists in recent matches.
Australia''s win in Tuesday night''s second Twenty20 match at the Gabba was their third-straight victory over the tourists in a week, including the third Test at the SCG, following the Proteas'' wins in the first two.
Hussey, who made a welcome return to form by smashing an unbeaten 53 from 33 balls at the Gabba, was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying: "I guess that was the focus coming in to the third Test match when we had lost the series, was to try to change the momentum a little bit. From that point of view, yeah, I think it''s definitely a good start."
"I think it''s given a lot of guys a lot of belief we can beat this South African team, so we have to go on with some confidence on Friday. But on Friday we start at nil-all and start punching again," he added.
South Africa skipper Johan Botha agreed there had been a power shift this summer, and the Proteas now had to find a way to wrest the advantage back.
"(Last) night showed us we can compete with Australia and we''ll have to keep finding ways to do it, because we have lost all the momentum now," he said. (ANI)