Former Australian cricketer Michael Hussey has urged the national selectors to be patient with Test 'debutant' George Bailey at the No.6 batting spot for the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney, although he is under pressure to retain his spot ahead of all-rounder James Faulkner.
Bailey, whose winter Ashes average of 27.2 puts him ahead of only Peter Siddle on the list of Australian players, received praise from arguably one of Australia's greatest middle-order batsmen.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Hussey said that Bailey had been a 'good luck charm' for the Australians and he believes that Bailey's early form this series, which has yielded one half-century from six innings, is not indicative of the career that he will forge as it is not easy to come into Test cricket and hit the ground running.
Stating that No.6 can be a difficult spot to bat, Hussey, whose average at number six of 51.75 from 26 innings is the sixth-highest average of Australian batsmen to have 20 innings or more, said that a batsman gets either the second new ball or the old ball, when it is soft and spinning, at No.6.
Hussey further said that at the position, a batsman needs to bat with the tail, bat whenever the team is in trouble and needs quick runs, adding that it is also a good thing that Bailey is an adaptable player.