Fresh off a string of underwhelming red-ball performances, Cricket Australia has secured the services of iconic former national batter Michael “Mr Cricket” Hussey for a permanent, long-term batting advisory role, with a core mandate to steer the men’s national side through a high-stakes stretch of global cricket tournaments culminating in the 2027 home Ashes and the historic 2028 Los Angeles Olympic cricket debut.
The 51-year-old, who earned 302 senior international caps for Australia across all formats over a decorated career, has previously stepped in for short-term consulting stints with the national setup in recent years, but will now join the full-time support staff with immediate effect ahead of Australia’s five-match T20I series against England kicking off on 21 November. His remit spans every format of the game: he will lead targeted batting improvements for the red-ball side, which has posted a string of dismal low scores in recent 12 months, including being dismissed for just 99 and 111 during a 2-1 Test series loss in South Africa, and skittled for 198 when Bangladesh secured their first ever Test victory on Australian soil earlier this year, following a 1-1 home Test draw against the same Bangladeshi side.
Hussey’s new appointment also positions him to guide Australia’s T20 squad as they prepare for two landmark milestones: the return of cricket to the Olympic program for the first time in 128 years at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, and the T20 World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand later that same October and November. Beyond those assignments, he will also support the team through the 2027 ODI World Cup hosted across South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
In his first public statement following the appointment, Hussey expressed his enthusiasm for the expanded formal role: “I am extremely excited about being a part of the team in a more formal and meaningful role in the coming years. This team has achieved so much in recent times, to which I hope I can add value to the coaching and playing groups ahead of what will be an exciting and challenging period.”
The grueling schedule awaiting the Australian men’s side in the lead-up to the 2027 Ashes includes a four-match home Test series against New Zealand immediately after the conclusion of the upcoming England T20I tour on 2 December, followed by a five-Test away campaign in India, a one-off commemorative Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting 11 March to mark 150 years of international Test cricket, and a potential berth in the World Test Championship final at The Oval on 9 June, before the five-match 2027 Ashes series runs from 18 June to 2 August.
A late bloomer who did not make his Test debut until age 30, after the 2005 Ashes defeat, Hussey went on to become a mainstay of Australia’s all-format batting line-up until his international retirement in early 2013, boasting a stellar Test average of 51.52 across 79 matches, alongside 185 ODI and 38 T20I appearances that yielded 2007 50-over World Cup and back-to-back 2006 and 2009 Champions Trophy titles. The veteran coach currently serves as head coach of The Hundred’s men’s side Welsh Fire, and previously held a senior coaching post with the Indian Premier League’s Chennai Super Kings under current England Test head coach Stephen Fleming. Notably, Hussey also worked as a batting consultant for the England men’s T20 side in 2022, playing a key supporting role in their T20 World Cup triumph on Australian soil that year.
Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald lauded the new hire in an official statement, highlighting Hussey’s proven track record across global cricket circuits: “Mike has been a highly valued part of our staff in the past and brings a considerable skill set which is complementary to the coaches and players. Not only is his expertise as a player and coach across multiple formats, competitions, countries invaluable, so are his qualities as a person.”