Hussey leads Australian recovery

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BRISBANE: Veteran Mike Hussey combined with newcomer Peter Forrest to lead a spirited recovery as Australia reached 288 for five in their one-day international against India in Brisbane on Sunday.

Hussey made 59 and Forrest 52 as the pair shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 100 off just 92 deliveries to overcome a sluggish start from the home side.

Left-arm medium pacer Irfan Pathan with 3-61 was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming both Hussey and Forrest as well as the dangerous David Warner, who made 43 at the top of the order.

But there was troubling news for the visitors when Sachin Tendulkar was forced from the field at the end of the 25th over after he was struck a painful blow on the left shin while fielding at first slip.

Australia's stand-in skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bat on a hot Brisbane afternoon, as the home team looked to bounce back from an eight-wicket drubbing by Sri Lanka on Friday as part of the tri-series ODIs.

Matthew Wade and Warner struggled with their timing early but the powerful Warner soon settled in, racing to 43 runs off 46 balls before clipping Pathan straight to Tendulkar at midwicket with the score on 70.

Warner had got the Australian run rate up to 5.3 an over but the Indians fought back following his dismissal, with both Wade and Ponting finding it hard to score.

Ponting in particular never looked comfortable, battling to seven from 26 deliveries, eventually skying an attempted hook shot to Pathan at deep square leg off Zaheer Khan.

Wade began to strike the ball freely but like Warner he gave his wicket away when he chipped the fourth ball of Rohit Sharma's first over back to the bowler.

New batsman Hussey survived a close stumping appeal in the next over but was hardly troubled after that as he and Forrest took control.

The 36-year-old Hussey was in great touch as he dominated the partnership, bringing up his 50 off 45 balls and scoring his 5,000th run in one-day internationals.

Forrest celebrated his 50 soon after, the Queenslander's second in three matches for Australia.

However, both departed soon after reaching their 50s, both caught in the deep off the bowling of Pathan.

But Mike's brother David Hussey (26) and Daniel Christian (30) led an assault on the Indian bowling over the last six overs, smashing 65 runs from 34 balls to leave the tourists with a big chase.