Mike Hussey says spin unlikely to stymie Oz chances on 'pace friendly' WC pitches

Former Australia batsman Mike Hussey believes that the co-costs have an excellent opportunity to win a fifth World Cup trophy as their failings against spin bowling are unlikely to figure at the tournament, having returned to their favoured quick and bouncy pitches.

Australia's batsmen had their confidence rocked with a 2-0 Test series loss to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, which followed a humiliating loss to Zimbabwe in a one-day match in Bulawayo.

Australia's vulnerability to disciplined spin on slow pitches was exposed by both, but Hussey believes that their batsmen would be primed to dominate on local wickets and in New Zealand where they play a group match against their co-hosts on Feb 28, The Dawn reported.

Hussey, while referring to the suspended Pakistani ace off spinner Saeed Ajmal and West Indies' Sunil Narine, said that looking into the cricket World Cup, he can't see spin being a big issue except against mystery spinners, guys like Ajmal and Narine who would be very, very difficult to face.

But, he added that he does not think the pitches would be that conducive to spin bowling so he is not anticipating it being a huge problem.

Hussey believes that they have got a fantastic opportunity and a great chance to win the World Cup. He said that Australia has got some of the most explosive batsmen in the world, when one looks at guys like David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson at the top end.

He added that then they have got some of the best workers and finishers in the game with captain Michael Clarke and George Bailey and Steve Smith. He also said that they have got some really exciting fast bowlers as well.

Hussey believes that the thing that Australia is probably going to have to deal with the most is how they handle playing the World Cup on home soil.