David Hussey’s “awful” start to legendary Victoria career

David Hussey enjoyed a brilliant career in the 2000s and 2010s as a regular feature for both Victoria and Australia’s white-ball setups.

Hailing from Perth, Hussey made the move to Victoria to play for Prahran in 2001, and after piling on the runs in Premier cricket, a first-class debut came his way in February 2003.

That first game for the Vics came at the MCG against a seriously impressive New South Wales team including Michael Slater, Simon Katich, Steve Waugh, Michael Clarke, Mark Waugh and Brad Haddin among others.

But it was the captain, Steve Waugh, who made it an unforgettable day for the young Victoria debutant.

Fielding at first slip, Hussey had the chance to catch the then Aussie skipper on just 7, which would have given the Vics a dream start.

Unfortunately for Hussey, that simple chance went down… 204 runs later, Waugh made sure to make him know about it.

“I found myself at first slip, we lost the toss and fielded first,” Hussey told This is Your Journey – thanks to Tobin Brothers.

“For some reason, it’s a mental block, and I can’t catch at first slip. I dropped 90 per cent of catches there.

“They were 1/0, 2/0, then Steve Waugh came out to bat. He hit a full-blooded cut shot to me at first slip, it was an absolute goober, but I dropped him.

“He was on 4, and he went on to make 211. Every milestone he saluted to the crowd and the 1500 people that were there, then he thanked me for allowing him the opportunity to show his talents and his class to everybody.

“It was not ideal, then I went out to get caught at bat-pad by my good friend Simon Katich (on 5)… so it was an awful debut.

“When I walked out to bat, all the NSW players were reminding me I had a lot of runs to make up.

“It was an interesting debut, but it was one of the best moments of my life walking out onto the MCG.”

While that debut match didn’t go to plan, Hussey became a Victorian great thereafter, featuring in 89 First Class games for the state and finishing his overall career with a First Class average of 52.50.

Hussey discussed his career in detail and much more on this week’s episode.