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Michael Hussey dismisses speculation on captaincy

Australian batsman Michael Hussey celebrates his century against the West Indies in their Tri-series match in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday. PHOTO: AP

Michael Hussey has brushed off talk of wanting to succeed Ricky Ponting as Australian captain, saying he is happy just to be playing in the same side.

Hussey took charge of his first game as skipper on Monday in the DLF Cup in Kuala Lumpur against the West Indies and led from the front, scoring a maiden one-day century only to see his side beaten by three wickets.

His efforts came hot on the heels of a poll on leading Web site baggygreen.com that showed 54 percent of voters believed Hussey should be Australia's next captain.

Current vice-captain Adam Gilchrist attracted just 20.3 percent of the votes.

"I've mentioned a few times that I'm 100 percent behind Ricky and Adam as captain and vice-captain of the team, and I can't really see that changing for the foreseeable future," said Hussey, who was deputizing for a resting Ponting.

"I'm really happy to get an opportunity, but I'm 100 percent behind them," he said.

Hussey has emerged as an astute cricketing brain and also a valuable one-day batsman, and said he thoroughly enjoyed his first outing as skipper.

"I enjoyed trying to come up with new ideas to find a wicket, or how we were going to keep it tight," he said. "I'm also lucky that I had some very experienced cricketers around me to give me some help. I enjoyed watching the way Brian Lara constructed his innings as well, and trying to play some mind-games with him."

At one point Ponting was the drinks man, bringing out refreshments for Hussey, who said he asked for advice.

"A couple of times when he came on, I was desperate for some help," said Hussey. "He's very calm and doesn't worry about too many things."

Gilchrist is not playing in Malaysia but will return to the squad for the Champions Trophy in India next month.

All-rounder Jacques Kallis became the first player to score 8,000 runs and take 200 wickets in both Test and one-day cricket in South Africa's six-wicket win over Zimbabwe on Monday.

The South African captain reached the milestone when he pushed the first ball he faced, bowled by medium pacer Piet Rinke, to mid-on for a single in the second one-day international in East London.

Kallis, who scored 26, went into the match with 7,999 runs and 205 wickets in one-day internationals. In Tests, he has scored 8,033 runs and taken 200 wickets.

South Africa took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with a more convincing display than they managed in winning the first match by five wickets in Kimberley on Friday.

Zimbabwe were dismissed for a mediocre 152 in 49.4 overs, to which South Africa replied with 156 for four in 27.4 overs.

"We got the rust out the other day in Kimberley, and the boys put in a good performance," Kallis said.

"We have lots of work to do from here, but it's a pleasing result," he told reporters.

Kallis said the South Africans had aimed to reach the target in "as close to 25 overs as possible."

Shaun Pollock needed just two more wickets to become the fifth player and the first South African to take 350 wickets in one-day internationals but he only managed to take one for 28.

Zimbabwe dawdled to their sub-par total after winning the toss and choosing to bat on a slow pitch that held few terrors for batsmen.

The visitors showed almost no aggression throughout their innings, which cost them dearly as they had little to show for their efforts when their last five wickets tumbled for 32.

Zimbabwe's only partnership of substance was the 47 shared by Justice Chibhabha and Elton Chigumbura for the sixth wicket.

Chibhabha's patient 38, which he scored off 98 deliveries, and Chigumbura's 30 were Zimbabwe's top scores.

Loots Bosman, who hit two sixes in his 38, and debutant Alviro Petersen, who scored 20, put South Africa on course for victory with a second-wicket stand of 53.

JP Duminy, with 31 not out, and Justin Kemp, who made an unbeaten 28, took South Africa home with an unbroken partnership of 47.

The match was originally scheduled to be played on Sunday but was postponed until Monday when rain washed out play.

The last match in the series was due to be played in Potchefstroom yesterday.
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