Australian cricket legend Mike Hussey has confirmed he is open to the possibility of joining England’s coaching staff as a Test batting consultant. The potential move follows an informal approach from England’s recently appointed red-ball coach, Stephen Fleming. The two share a long-standing professional relationship, having spent 15 years working together as teammates and later as coaches for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League.
Speaking to Fox Sports, where he serves as a commentator, Hussey noted that the discussion with Fleming was casual. “We obviously get on really well and work a lot together,” Hussey said, describing the interaction as a passing comment regarding his potential interest in the role. While the former Test stalwart, often referred to as “Mr Cricket” for his deep technical knowledge, has not yet formally considered the offer, he did not rule it out. “I wouldn’t say never to anything really. I just love the coaching side of the game, and just to be able to work with different players,” he added.
The prospect of Hussey joining England’s ranks is particularly notable given the upcoming Ashes series. England is set to host Australia across June, July, and August next year, aiming to reclaim the urn for the first time since 2015. If Hussey were to accept, he would find himself in the position of helping England plot a victory against his own country.
Hussey acknowledged that the prospect of working against Australia would “feel a bit weird.” He previously assisted the England squad during the 2022 T20 World Cup, noting that while putting on the England training shirt felt strange initially, the feeling subsided once he began working with the players in the nets. “Once you get in the nets and you start working with players, you sort of almost forget what shirt you’ve got on,” he explained.
Currently, Hussey is taking a break after concluding his coaching duties with the Welsh Fire in The Hundred. He emphasized that he has not yet given the potential England role any serious thought but plans to do so in the near future. Stephen Fleming took over the England red-ball head coach position in late July, succeeding fellow New Zealander Brendon McCullum, who continues to lead England’s white-ball cricket programs. The report also notes that “So, look, I haven’t fully considered anything at this stage.
