England are confident of securing former Australia Batter Michael Hussey as batting coach in Stephen Fleming’s revamped Test set-up, according to a report by The Telegraph. Hussey is considering an approach from the new England Test Head Coach as Fleming begins assembling his backroom staff.
Fleming has succeeded Brendon McCullum as England Test Head Coach but is not overseeing the ongoing three-match series against Pakistan, with Marcus Trescothick serving as Interim Test Coach. England took a 1-0 series lead after their victory at Headingley, while Fleming is expected to arrive in the UK in September ahead of his first series in charge, a three-Test tour of South Africa later this year.
Hussey has previously worked with England as a batting consultant during their successful 2022 T20 World Cup campaign and recently returned from the UK after coaching Welsh Fire in the Hundred.
Hussey considers England coaching opportunity
Fleming’s approach comes as he starts building the support structure that will accompany his move into the England Test job. Former Australia Batter Michael Hussey told Fox Sports News: “We obviously get on really well and worked a lot together. It was just a bit of a passing comment, really, saying, ‘Look, what, what do you reckon? Would you, would you think about being the batting coach?’”
Hussey has not committed to the position and said he had only recently returned from his Hundred assignment in England. He noted: “I have not been able to give it any thought whatsoever. I’ve just got back from the UK myself with coaching in the Hundred. So I haven’t thought about it at all.”
His previous experience inside the England environment came when he joined the coaching group for the T20 World Cup in Australia. Hussey added: “And I have worked with England once before in the T20 World Cup. And I must admit, it did feel very weird pulling on that training shirt for the first time. But once you get in the nets and you start working with players, you sort of almost forget what shirt you’ve got on.”
Beyond the England opportunity, Hussey has made clear that nationality is not a barrier to the coaching work he is prepared to consider. His focus is on helping players develop, whether they represent Australia, England, South Africa, Pakistan, India or another country.
Ashes prospect adds another dimension
An England appointment would put Hussey on the opposite side of the Ashes rivalry when Australia tour in 2027. England also have a heavy Test programme before then, with the Pakistan series beginning a sequence of 15 Tests across 12 months.
Hussey said: “It would feel a bit weird – definitely – coaching for England against Australia in an Ashes series, no question.”
The demands of the position extend beyond cricket, with the prospective role potentially requiring significant periods away from Hussey’s family in Western Australia. He added: “I have a very close relationship with Stephen Fleming and that has an impact on it as well. The time away from family is a real thing for me. I am not in a position to say yay or nay any time soon.”
Hussey played 79 Tests for Australia and averaged 51.52 before moving into coaching following his playing career. His experience now spans franchise and international environments, including his work with Welsh Fire and his previous consultancy with England.
Fleming begins shaping England’s Test set-up
Fleming’s appointment has created a new structure at the top of England’s coaching operation following McCullum’s tenure with the Test side. McCullum remains responsible for the white-ball teams, while Fleming is taking charge of the red-ball programme.
The two coaches are expected to operate with separate support teams. Hussey noted of Fleming: “He has a very good understanding of the game. Very shrewd operator who gets that balance between enjoyment and fun and relationships. He has a great chance to do well. He wants to keep the game moving forward but perhaps not as recklessly as England have been recently. He will try and be a bit smarter with it.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board is not rushing to finalise Fleming’s staff. Trescothick, Jeetan Patel and Tim Southee remain involved with the Test side and are due to reconvene with McCullum for England’s white-ball series against Sri Lanka in September.
England are also looking to appoint an overarching batting lead to oversee the development and coaching of batters from the age-group pathway through to the senior international teams, in a structure comparable to Troy Cooley’s position as Elite National Pace Bowling Lead.
Trescothick’s longer-term role remains unclear
Fleming has remained in regular contact with England’s leadership during the Pakistan series despite not yet being with the team. England Interim Test Coach Marcus Trescothick told Sky Sports News: “It was just to keep topping up on what we’re trying to do.”
The arrival of a new Test coaching structure leaves decisions to be made over existing members of the backroom staff, including Trescothick. At the post-match press conference, he said: “I’d love to carry on, of course. We’ve been involved in both formats of the game for a good period of time and had good success and plenty of challenges along the way. Whatever that brings, really – first and foremost, I want to be involved in all formats of the game because it’s a wonderful place to be. Working with the best and seeing England cricketers do well.”
One potential outcome if Hussey joins Fleming’s staff would be for Trescothick to work exclusively with McCullum’s white-ball teams, although no decision has been confirmed. Trescothick added: “I’ve a huge amount of respect for Stephen [Fleming] and what he’s done in the game, he was a fantastic captain and leader and has done a brilliant job doing what he’s done as a coach.”
England’s wider coaching operation is also undergoing change following Andrew Flintoff’s departure as Lions Head Coach this month. Tim Southee and Jeetan Patel remain part of the national set-up, while former England Wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor is working as a consultant fielding coach.
The final composition of Fleming’s staff has yet to be settled. Trescothick noted: “That’s not really for me to judge so I’ll wait and see what happens.”
Fleming is expected in the UK in September to reacquaint himself with the county system and continue preparations for England’s winter programme. His first Test assignment in charge is scheduled to be the three-match South Africa tour at the end of the year, with Hussey’s potential appointment and the roles of England’s existing coaches among the personnel decisions still to be resolved.
