David Hussey might be next candidate to give up Test hopes for IPL

Melbourne, Mar. 17 (ANI): Victorian all-rounder David Hussey could be the next candidate to give up Tests for the lucrative Indian Premier League.

The former Western Australian, however, will forego over 230,000 dollars in IPL earnings from the Kolkata Knightriders to help the Victoria Bushrangers chase their second consecutive Sheffield Shield title.

''It was a massive decision to be honest. A lot of people [have been shocked by it] actually. They worked out how much it was going to cost me and they're saying 'What are you doing? That's a house you could pay off. You've already won two shields, take off [to India]' but, probably to my detriment, I'm a very loyal person and I still want to play cricket for Australia in the Test arena,'' the Daily Telegraph quoted 32-year-old Hussey, as saying.

Across the three forms this season the right-hander has scored 1237 runs for the Bushrangers, including 794 in the Sheffield Shield at an average of 52.9.

Only Ed Cowan (957), Phillip Hughes (953) and Michael Klinger (886) have been more prolific in the four-day game, a record that surprised Hussey.

The only national recognition Hussey has received of late is in the Australian Twenty20 side, of which is now a key member.

While the 32-year-old is grateful for any chance to represent Australia, he insisted he could not be satisfied just playing Twenty20 Internationals.

''To play Twenty20 is fantastic - don't get me wrong, I love playing Twenty20 for Australia - but I think I'd be underachieving if I didn't represent Australia in the Test arena,'' he said.

Hussey hopes another century in a shield final - he scored one last year too - could push him back into contention for the mid-year Tests against Pakistan and, later, the Ashes.

He said the ability of his older brother, Mike, this summer to snap his form slump gave him confidence he too could perform strongly well into his 30s. (ANI)