Australia hires Hussey long-term for Ashes and Olympics — SkimNews
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- Australia appointed Michael Hussey as long-term batting consultant to prepare for the 2027 Ashes and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with the 51-year-old joining the national staff for a five-game T20 series against England from 21 November.
- Australia's Test form prompted the call: a 1-1 home draw with Bangladesh, a 2-1 loss in South Africa, an all-out 198 in August as Bangladesh won its first ever Test in Australia, and innings of 99 and 111 in the second and third Tests in South Africa — after two Ashes Tests last winter lasted just two days each.
- Michael Hussey said he was "extremely excited" to join in "a more formal and meaningful role," having filled short-term batting consultancy stints before, while coach Andrew McDonald called him "highly valued" and said his experience across "multiple formats, competitions, countries" was invaluable.
- Hussey's remit covers the first Olympic cricket competition in 128 years and the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in October and November, plus the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, where he will also work with the national side.
- Australia's pre-Ashes schedule after the final England T20 on 2 December: four home Tests against New Zealand, a five-game series in India, a one-off Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from 11 March marking 150 years of Test cricket, a possible World Test Championship final at the Oval on 9 June, then the five-match Ashes from 18 June to 2 August.
- Hussey's credentials are substantial: he did not play a Test until age 30, broke into Australia's side after the 2005 Ashes and made 79 Tests at an average of 51.52, plus 185 ODIs and 38 T20s, winning the 2007 World Cup and the 2006 and 2009 Champions Trophies; he is now head coach of Welsh Fire in the men's Hundred, works with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL under England Test coach Stephen Fleming, and was England's batting consultant for their 2022 T20 World Cup win in Australia.
Why it matters: Australia's Test batting has cracked where it counts: 198 all out against Bangladesh in August — Bangladesh's first ever Test win in Australia — and innings of 99 and 111 in South Africa. Hussey's tenure opens with England on 21 November and stretches to the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the five-match Ashes starting 18 June.
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