Michael Hussey has opted to work with Australia rather than join England’s Test coaching staff, choosing a part-time consultancy role with Cricket Australia as both sides build towards the 2027 Ashes.
According to an exclusive report by The Guardian’s Matt Hughes, the former Australia batter held discussions last month with new England Test Head Coach Stephen Fleming about becoming his batting coach but has decided against taking the position.
The Cricket Australia arrangement is expected to offer Hussey greater flexibility, allowing the 51-year-old to combine work with the national set-up alongside his existing coaching and broadcasting commitments.
Flexibility shapes Hussey’s Australia decision
A permanent role with England would have required a considerably greater time commitment. England have a demanding Test schedule ahead, including tours of South Africa and Bangladesh, followed by a trip to Australia for the 150th anniversary Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March, before hosting the Ashes next summer.
Australia also face a busy Test programme, but Hussey’s consultancy arrangement will allow him to fit his involvement with the national side around his other work.
Hussey served as Welsh Fire Head Coach in The Hundred this year and has also worked as a batting coach with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. His other commitments include commentary and punditry work for Fox Sports in Australia.
The decision keeps Hussey within the Australian system while preserving the flexibility to remain involved across franchise cricket and broadcasting.
Fleming misses out on a familiar coaching option
Hussey represented a natural candidate for Fleming as the New Zealander builds his England Test backroom team. The pair have a longstanding connection through Chennai Super Kings, where they worked together across Hussey’s playing and coaching career.
Hussey also has previous experience inside the England environment. He worked with the team on a part-time consultancy basis during England’s successful 2022 T20 World Cup campaign.
His decision means Fleming will need to consider other options for the Test batting role. Marcus Trescothick has been filling the position on a caretaker basis during England’s current Test series against Pakistan and remains a possible solution.
Another option would be for Trescothick to continue working with the Test side while the England and Wales Cricket Board appoints someone else to oversee batting development across its wider pathway.
Hussey adds experience to Australia’s Ashes build-up
Hussey brings extensive international and coaching experience to Cricket Australia’s plans. The former left-hander played 79 Tests, 185 ODIs and 38 T20Is for Australia, scoring 6,235 Test runs at an average of 51.52 before retiring from international cricket in 2013.
His addition also comes with the next Ashes approaching, giving Australia another experienced former international within its wider Test set-up while allowing Hussey to maintain the portfolio of roles he has developed since his playing career.
For England, the immediate task remains completing Fleming’s coaching structure ahead of a demanding international schedule, with Hussey no longer an option for the Test batting position.
