England bowling impresses Hussey

Hussey now averages 85 from his 14 Test matches

Australia's in-form batsman Mike Hussey backed his teammates to negate Monty Panesar when they get a second chance to face him in the third Ashes Test.

Panesar returned to the team in style with 5-92 but his Northants colleague Hussey held firm with an unbeaten 74.

"He bowled nicely but hopefully we will play him better and he won't have the same impact later on," Hussey observed.

"I thought all the England bowlers bowled well, particularly in the first session when there was some moisture."

Of Panesar's dismissals, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist were guilty of misjudging the flight of the ball with forward-defensive shots.

Hussey, who has quickly established his place in the team after making a belated Test debut aged 30 in November 2005, was batting at number four in the order for the first time.

"I enjoy getting out there into the battle," said Hussey, who opened the batting in his first two Tests before moving to number five.

"It was a bit of a strange feeling because it was such a shock for Damien Martyn to retire like he did.

"It's a good opportunity, not just for me but for all the guys, Michael Clarke to cement his place at number five and Andrew Symonds getting a good opportunity as well."

The left-hander admitted Australia should have recorded a bigger total having won the toss at his home ground.

"We'd definitely have liked more runs," he said. "But I thought our bowlers bowled really well to start with with the new ball and we have two handy wickets."