Michael Hussey Chooses Australia Consultancy Over England Test Role

Michael Hussey has reportedly chosen a part-time consultancy with Cricket Australia instead of becoming England's Test batting coach. The Guardian reported that the former Australia batter held talks with new England Test head coach Stephen Fleming last month but is understood to have decided to remain based in Australia.

Watch the highlights:

The decision leaves Fleming continuing his search for a specialist batting coach as he builds his England backroom staff. According to the report, the England and Wales Cricket Board could instead keep Marcus Trescothick in the role after his caretaker spell during the current Test series against Pakistan. That possibility gives the board an experienced internal option while Fleming assesses the shape of his coaching team.

Flexibility appears to have been central to Hussey's choice. The reported Cricket Australia consultancy would allow the 51-year-old to arrange national-team duties around other commitments, including franchise coaching and his commentary and punditry work for Fox Sports in Australia.

Hussey was head coach of Welsh Fire in the Hundred this year and has also worked as a batting coach for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. Fleming and Hussey worked together at Chennai for 18 years across Hussey's time as a player and coach, a professional relationship that ended this year.

Hussey has previous experience inside the England setup. He served as a part-time consultant during England's successful T20 World Cup campaign in 2022. A full-time Test post would have carried a heavier travel schedule, with England due to tour South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia this winter before hosting the Ashes next summer.

Australia also faces a demanding Test calendar, but the consultancy is expected to let Hussey fit his work around existing obligations. If Trescothick remains with the senior Test side, the ECB could alternatively appoint a new head of batting coaching across its development teams. Neither Cricket Australia nor the ECB commented to The Guardian, meaning the reported appointments and options have not been publicly confirmed by the governing bodies.