England’s new Test coach Stephen Fleming has reportedly approached Aussie cricket legend Mike Hussey about joining his coaching staff. Just days after being unveiled as Brendon McCullum’s coaching successor with the England red-ball side, Fleming has sounded out the man known as ‘Mr Cricket’ about becoming their new batting coach, according to Channel 7’s Tom Morris.
The pair share a long history having first played together at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League. Fleming eventually took over as coach of the IPL franchise and Hussey was his star player. The Aussie later joined the Kiwi’s coaching staff at CSK, where they have spent 15 years together.
New England Test coach Stephen Fleming (L) has approached Aussie cricket legend Mike Hussey (R image, top left) about becoming their batting coach. Pic: Getty
And Fleming is clearly keen to keep that partnership going after leaving his job as head coach of CSK to take up the England Test job. It’s understood the New Zealand legend has contacted Hussey about the England role, but the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are yet to make the Aussie legend a formal offer.
Hussey is currently head coach of the Welsh Fire men’s team in the Hundred competition, where newly reinstated England Test skipper Joe Root is his star player. And the 51-year-old Hussey would likely be one of the favourites to fill the CSK head coaching role that has just been vacated by Fleming.
Mike Hussey and Stephen Fleming are seen here during a practice session with IPL franchise the Chennai Super Kings. Pic: Getty
Mike Hussey faces big decision over England role
The IPL job would likely be much more lucrative than the England role. And with an Ashes series coming up in England next year, Hussey has a big decision to make about whether he’d be willing to help the ‘Old Enemy’ try and plot the downfall of his countrymen.
It’s a prospect that seems almost inconceivable for a player that embodied Aussie cricket during his playing career. Hussey was part of Australia’s 2007 Cricket World Cup triumph and is regarded as one of the nation’s finest middle order batters of his generation.
2007 Cricket World Cup winner and former Test star Mike Hussey was an Australian fan favourite during his incredible playing career. Pic: Getty
He amassed 6235 Test runs at 51.5 and more than 6000 runs in white-ball cricket across an incredible international career. However, Hussey has already served as a consultant for England during their victorious T20 World Cup campaign in 2022, providing Fleming with hope in his audacious poaching attempt.
England’s batting coach during their recent Ashes tour of Australia, Marcus Trescothick, will fill the role in an interim capacity for the upcoming three-Test series against Pakistan. And Fleming won’t officially take charge of England’s Test side until December’s three-Test tour of South Africa.
