Australia’s veteran Test batsman Mike Hussey said that Indians will be kept under pressure during the four-match Test series starting with the Boxing Day Test here Monday.

Hussey, however, agreed that Indians would provide very stiff opposition as they make an effort for their first Test series win in Australia in nine attempts over 64 years.

“I think they’ve got a very experienced batting order. Most of their players have played here in Australia before. They’re all class players and we’re going to have to bowl extremely well to get on top of them and keep them under pressure for long periods,” said Hussey.

Hussey said that fast bowlers Ben Hilfenhaus and Mitchell Starc did their best to impress the selectors during the practice session here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

“I’m not sure which way the selectors are going to go but I faced both those guys this morning and I thought they both bowled really well. I know (captain) Michael Clarke was watching the nets very closely today as well, so there’s plenty of motivation for all the guys, whether you’re a batsman or a bowler,” Hussey was quoted as saying by The Age.

Hussey also denied that he is stuck in a form slump. The left-handed batsman was in top form in September’s three-Test series against Sri Lanka – amassing a prolific 463 runs at an average of 92.60 – before striking a lean patch away to South Africa and at home against New Zealand.

“I feel like I’m in a good place mentally. I feel like I’m batting well in the nets. It just goes with batting. You just sometimes need a little bit of luck early in your innings and you can go on and get a big score,” said Hussey, who has made just 83 runs in his last seven Test innings.

Hussey described his lean patch in leading up to the Indian series as “just the way the game goes”.

“We had some tough conditions to bat in in South Africa so you needed a little bit of luck to get through there. Certainly the first couple of pitches here in Australia have been hard work for the batters as well and I haven’t been able to get through that initial period,” he said.

Hussey also feels that embattled former skipper Ricky Ponting deserved to be part of the 13-man squad despite accusations he’s past his best.

“His (Ponting’s) attitude around the team has been fantastic. He got a couple of really good starts in the last series and I’m sure there are a few big scores just around the corner.”

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