Australia's 'Mr Cricket' says he won't walk

MELBOURNE, Jan 20 (Reuters) Australian batsman Mike Hussey has admitted he does not walk unless umpires give him out.

Hussey, nicknamed 'Mr. Cricket' because of his obsession with the history and intricacies of the game, made the startling admission after guiding Australia to a tense four-wicket victory over England in the tri-series match in Brisbane yesterday.

''I'm not a walker, unlike Gilly (stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist),'' said Hussey.

Gilchrist has always maintained that top-flight cricketers should be honest and give themselves out when they can if umpires have close calls to make.

''If he nicks the ball he walks. I don't walk, there's no question about it. I've been given out a few times when I haven't been out,'' he told reporters after the game.

''If I do happen to get out and the umpire doesn't give me, that's just the way the game goes.'' Australia's vice-captain in the recent England match, Hussey was on 19 when he prodded forward to a delivery from James Anderson in the 30th over and wicketkeeper Paul Nixon took the apparently straightforward catch.

But Hussey stood his ground when umpire Daryl Harper did not raise his finger and exchanged heated words with Anderson and Nixon over his refusal to walk.

Anderson looked at Hussey in disbelief as he stood his ground and confronted the the 31-year-old.

''(Anderson) was saying 'you hit that, you should be walking', and I said 'mate, I don't walk.' ''I take the good decisions with the bad. I've had some where I've thought I wasn't out and I've had some where I have been out. I leave it up to the umpires and they generally do a good job.'' Australia play New Zealand in the fifth match of the series in Sydney tomorrow.

REUTERS MQA BST0755