A pitiful Sri Lankan collapse and Hussey's own reluctance to embrace the spotlight put paid to that.

The visitors' meagre 87-run lead will need a significant boost from Dinesh Chandimal (22no) today, or run the risk of being eaten up by Australia's top three batsmen - let alone No.4 Michael Clarke.

One thing appears certain, Hussey won't appear in the middle until three wickets fall.

"I don't think Huss will want to go up the order to be honest," century-maker Matthew Wade said yesterday.

"He's been really funny this week. He just wants us to win and he wants it to be his last cricket match.

"He wants to play it exactly the way he'd play it if it wasn't his last one I suppose.

"... But we'll try and push him out there, don't worry about that."

That means his last effort with bat in hand produced 25runs before he was cruelly run-out chasing a quick single, called through by skipper Clarke.

That exit drew rapturous applause from a delirious SCG crowd, eager to celebrate Hussey's career.

They cheered when he wandered near the boundary, every time he fielded a ball and even when he stretched.

Every one of his four catches was received with applause that rocked the stadium and, of course, he was given a standing ovation when he walked out to bat for what now looks like being the final time.

But the crowd wasn't satisfied.

They simply wanted one more memory of "Mr Cricket".

And so the chant began.

"Give it to Hus-sey" sang out around the SCG before a chorus of boos rained down on Mitchell Starc for being selected to bowl the penultimate over.

But they got their wish, with captain Clarke relenting and throwing the rock to the affable 37-year-old - who couldn't deliver the wicket they desired.

"The crowd have been awesome with Huss," Wade said.

"It's been fun to be out there and watch him - he gets a little bit embarrassed by all that stuff.

"So the Hussey chants, he tends to shy away from.

"He didn't really want to bowl, I don't think, tonight. The crowd got him a bowl to be honest."

Hussey won't want to have to bat today either, but the crowd may demand otherwise.