Adelaide, Jan 22 (IANS) Australia’s veteran middle-order batsman Mike Hussey doesn’t feel the responsibility to pass the baton on and said youngsters must earn their place in the side.

The 36-year-old, who was under pressure to retain his place in the side at the start of this series, hit back at detractors by averaging 84.33 in the three Tests series against India so far.

Hussey feels he has a big role to play in helping fourth-ranked Australia get back to No.1 slot in Test cricket.

The Adelaide Test will conclude Australia’s Test summer at home, with Twenty20 matches against India and a one-day series against India and Sri Lanka to follow before a full tour of the Caribbean.

“I’m looking forward to this Test match. I haven’t looked beyond that at all at this stage. I’ve just really tried to set myself for this series. But my body feels good and I still feel like I’m playing well.

“I still feel mentally wanting to turn up for training and mentally keen for the battle out in the middle so from that point of view, I’m definitely thinking of continuing on. I’d love to go to the West Indies,” said Hussey after a training session at the Adelaide Oval.

Having earned his maiden Baggy Green, after playing domestic cricket for 10 years, Hussey said he was brought up in culture in which the next generation have to earn their right to play for Australia.

“It took me over 10 years of first-class cricket just to get one game for Australia so I certainly don’t feel the responsibility to pass the baton on. I still feel like I’ve got a big role to play in the team with experience to help some of the younger members of the team. Plus I still feel like I can contribute to Australia working their way back to where we want to be which is the No.1 team in the world,” he said.

Hussey said his contemporaries like Ricky Ponting and Brad Haddin were not contemplating retirement.

“Everyone knows where they stand, they know what their roles are and they know where they want to take the team in the future.

“That gives everyone a lot of heart and a lot of confidence. You can relax again and be yourself and you can really see the characters coming out in all the team,” he said.