Hussey Joins Australia Coaching Staff

Former Australian batter Mike Hussey began work as a consultant coach for the national team on Friday. The appointment covers the upcoming Ashes series against England and the 2027 Cricket World Cup. Hussey is 51 years old.

The former player declined an informal offer from England in August to serve as their Test batting mentor. Stephen Fleming, the new red-ball coach for England, had proposed the role. Hussey chose to support his home country instead. He aims to address a current batting slump, which was evident in a 2-1 Test series loss in South Africa.

Hussey, often called Mr Cricket for his technical skills, will also assist during this month's home T20 series against England. He will remain involved for the four-Test series against New Zealand that follows. His duties extend to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2028 T20 World Cup.

Hussey played more than 300 matches for Australia across all formats. He has prior coaching experience with both Australia and England. He was part of the staff when England won the 2022 T20 World Cup. He also served as a batting coach for the Chennai Super Kings and led Welsh Fire in this year's Hundred.

Australian head coach Andrew McDonald praised the addition. He stated that Hussey brings a skill set that complements the existing coaches and players. McDonald noted that Hussey's expertise across multiple formats and countries is invaluable. The head coach also cited Hussey's personal qualities as a key factor in the hiring decision.

Hussey expressed excitement about joining the team in a more formal capacity. He said the team has achieved much in recent times and hopes to add value to the coaching and playing groups. He described the coming period as exciting and challenging.