Hussey goads spinner Doherty to perform

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Hussey goads spinner Doherty to perform

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Hussey says Doherty is maintaining a positive attitude for the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

05 September,2012 08:59 pm

Australias David Hussey says fellow spinner Xavier Doherty is maintaining a positive attitude for the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka despite being overlooked for the one-day series against Pakistan.Doherty took 1-34 in Australias first-ever one-day game against Afghanistan in Sharjah on August 25 and was left out of the side for the three-game series against Pakistan, despite being the only frontline spinner in Michael Clarkes squad.Pakistan, in contrast, fielded four specialist spinners in the third game of the one-day series in Sharjah on Monday night.Australia face Pakistan in a three-game T20 series starting in Dubai overnight (0200 AEST) as left-arm spinner Doherty attempts to push his case for World Cup selection.Left-arm wrist-spinner Brad Hogg and batting allrounders who bowl spin such as Hussey, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron White could make competition tight for places in the side for Australias opening World Cup clash with Ireland in Colombo on September 19.Hogg, a two-time World Cup winner in one-day cricket, took three wickets in three games in the Sri Lankan T20 premier league last month.The 41-year-old has always been a lively character with a bounce in his step and his stunning comeback in the Big Bash League last summer for Perth Scorchers - claiming 13 wickets at an average of 14.69 - has only added to the West Australians enthusiasm in what has been a remarkable career.