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Vics playing to win

Vics playing to win

03/12/2010 06:26:27 AM

A draw will be enough for Victoria to retain the Sheffield Shield but that won't satisfy the Bushrangers, star batsman David Hussey says.

Hussey declared the Vics would play to win when they take the field against Queensland in the 2009-10 Shield decider at the MCG starting next Wednesday.

The hosts go into the final with successive outright wins including Friday's demolition job on Tasmania by an innings and 14 runs.

Hussey would like that trend to continue against the Bulls who've been bitter rivals over the past decade.

"We desperately want to win the game," said Hussey.

"Last year we drew the game, but this year we definitely want to win it."

"It is a big advantage having a home final - you have to get 20 wickets as an opposition so that's an advantage for us - but we desperately want to win the game."

"Bowling a team out twice and (being) outright champions, that's the ultimate goal."

This will be the fifth time in the past 11 seasons that Victoria and Queensland have met in the Shield final.

The Bulls prevailed three times in Brisbane in 1999-00, 2000-01 and 2005-06, and the Vics twice at the MCG in 2003-04 and last season.

"Both teams get on very, very well but, out on the field we play it very tough," Hussey said.

"It's good to have them come down again, and I'm not going to wish them all the best, but I just hope that we can play good consistent but aggressive cricket throughout the five days at the MCG."

Routing the Tigers inside three days has provided the Bushrangers with a bonus day off that, according to Hussey, could not have come at a better time.

"Just to have Saturday off, Sunday off to regroup and repair and rest and recuperate and to come in on Monday morning fresh and healthy and ready to go for Wednesday's final is a huge advantage," said Hussey.

"All the boxes are being ticked at the moment."

"If you see the dressing room now, it's a little bit quiet but we know we've got one more game to win."

Hussey credited veteran pacemen Darren Pattinson and Damien Wright for the win over the Tigers.

In the hour before lunch on Friday they launched an onslaught that Tassie's top-order couldn't resist, reducing the visitors to 6-18 in their second innings. It was all downhill from there.

"Damien and Darren really set the tone, they bowled at the stumps, bowled with lively pace and moved the ball around," said Hussey.

"If you bowl at the MCG at the stumps you generally get a lot of wickets and six wickets in the first hour and 20 minutes after being bowled out was simply sensational."

Despite his second innings heroics, Pattinson remains under a slight injury cloud for the final with a lower leg strain.

"He's putting his hand up for the final and hopefully he gets up, he's bowled superbly the last three games," said Hussey.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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