New Delhi: Former Australia batter Michael Hussey has reportedly turned down the chance to become batting coach and is instead set to take up a part-time consultancy role with Cricket Australia.
Hussey held talks with England’s newly appointed Test head coach Stephen Fleming over joining his backroom staff, but has decided to reject the batting coach role.
As per a report in The Guardian, Hussey will join the Australian team as a batting consultant before the Ashes next year. He chose to remain in Australia for flexibility as the role allows him to continue with his other commitments in franchise cricket and commentary. Fleming will now have to search for a new candidate for the role of England’s Test batting coach.
Hussey opted for the part-time role with Australia to ensure he can continue serving as the head coach of the Welsh Fire in The Hundred and the batting coach of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Hussey worked under Fleming for a number of years at CSK before the former New Zealand captain was removed as head coach by the franchise earlier this year.
Hussey has also previously worked as a part-time batting consultant for England during their successful campaign in the 2022 T20 World Cup. However, he rejected the chance to reunite with Fleming in England to ensure he could have the freedom to carry on with his other commitments while balancing the Australia batting consultant role.
Hussey’s decision is a setback for Fleming, who has shared a long relationship with the former Australia batter, having spent 18 years together at CSK. Former England batter Marcus Trescothick is currently working as the caretaker batting coach of England and is a strong contender for the permanent batting coach role.
England clinch Test series against Pakistan
Meanwhile, Fleming’s tenure as England’s Test coach is off to a great start with the hosts clinching the ongoing home Test series against Pakistan. England thrashed Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in the first Test before winning the 2nd Test by 194 runs to clinch the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead.
England and Pakistan will lock horns in the final third Test at Birmingham in Edgbaston, starting Wednesday, September 09.