IT remains to be seen whether a fighting knock of 66 from Michael Hussey on day one of the opening Test against the West Indies will help quiet his critics, but the veteran batsman had more important things on his mind while batting at the Gabba yesterday.

Hussey stroked nine boundaries while moving Australia’s score from 2-126 to 3-253 before chipping a catch back to beanpole spinner Sulieman Benn.

Various media outlets have recently called for national chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch to drop the 34-year-old after a relatively lean year in the five-day arena – despite the fact Hussey notched a century in his last start at Test level.

Hussey, in some sort of ODI form after plundering a series-high 313 runs at 104 in the recent tour of India, suggested that the speculation over his position in the Test lineup was the furthest thing from his mind when he strode to the middle.

“I want to try and be as relaxed as possible and not put too much pressure on myself,” Hussey said.

“I think when I’m playing my best, or when anyone’s playing their best, it’s when they’re calm, relaxed and confident.”

“Looking at my dismissals over the last year, there have been quite a few that have been a bit unlucky or maybe a bit out of my control, but the ones that I’ve stuffed up badly – I’ve been a bit tentative or trying a bit too hard.”

As for whether his half-century would help ease the pressure, Hussey was unconcerned.

“I haven’t really thought about it, to be honest,” he said.

“It was obviously good to get to 60-odd, but probably all of us are a little bit disappointed we couldn’t go on, and one of us get a big hundred.”

“The selectors haven’t really spoken to me at all, (all they have said is) just that they’re right behind me, they’re backing me and they’ve proved that by selecting me for this Test.”

“That’s all I’m looking for at this stage.”

“I’m trying to play as well as I can and contribute in this Test match and not really trying to look too far ahead from there.”

Australia finished day one at 5-322 on the back of half-centuries from Hussey, Ricky Ponting (55) and Simon Katich (92).

Hussey was impressed with the performance of the West Indian bowling attack in what he called ‘very good batting conditions’.

“I thought they were pretty good.”

“(Kemar) Roach has got some good pace, he certainly hurried us all up and (Dwayne) Bravo is an excellent competitor and I thought Benn did a very good job today as well.”

The West Indies efforts were soured by news spearhead Jerome Taylor was unable to bowl with the second new ball due to a sore left hip.

However Roach, who claimed figures of 1-50, expected he would be fit for today, and was pleased on the whole with his side’s efforts on the opening day.

“I’m pretty satisfied, the guys put in a lot of work and we had a pretty good day. There were some chances, but we pulled through nice and to claim five wickets was good,” Roach said.

“The wicket is a bit of batting wicket, and the ball wasn’t really doing much, but we wanted to stick to the basics – good lines and lengths.”