6 November 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : Former Australian cricket star Mike Hussey has taken on an expanded role with the Australian men’s national cricket team, bringing his experience and knowledge to the coaching setup across all three formats of the game. Cricket Australia has strengthened its coaching staff by bringing the former left-handed batter on board as a consultant coach and T20 advisor ahead of an important period in international cricket.
The appointment is expected to provide Australia with additional experience as the team prepares for several major international assignments over the next two years. Hussey will contribute to the team’s preparations for Test, One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket, helping players and the coaching staff deal with the challenges of a demanding international schedule.
According to Cricket Australia’s announcement on November 6, Hussey will work as a consultant coach ahead of the 2027 Ashes series and the ODI World Cup in southern Africa. He will also serve as a T20 advisor as Australia looks towards two significant competitions in 2028, including the Los Angeles Olympics and the T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The 51-year-old former international cricketer is expected to begin his responsibilities immediately. His initial involvement will include providing coaching support during Australia’s upcoming five-match T20I series against England, which begins later this month. He will also spend time with the Australian Test squad ahead of the home summer Test series against New Zealand.
Hussey’s return to the national setup comes at an important time for Australian cricket. The team has several challenging assignments ahead, and the management is looking to strengthen its coaching resources by bringing in individuals with international playing and coaching experience.
Speaking about his new responsibilities, Hussey expressed excitement about working more closely with the Australian team. He said that the side had achieved considerable success in recent years and that he hoped to contribute positively to both the coaching group and the players during an exciting but challenging period.
Australian head coach Andrew McDonald also welcomed Hussey’s appointment. McDonald highlighted the former batter’s extensive experience across different formats, countries and cricket competitions. He explained that Hussey had previously been a highly valued member of the coaching staff and possessed skills that would complement the existing coaching group.
Hussey is widely recognised as one of Australia’s most dependable batters. During his international career, he represented Australia in 79 Test matches, scoring 6,235 runs at an impressive average of more than 51. He also played 185 One Day Internationals and 38 T20 Internationals.
Known by the nickname ‘Mr Cricket’, Hussey earned a reputation for his technical ability, consistency and calm approach under pressure. His experience in different conditions and against international bowling attacks is expected to be valuable for Australia’s current generation of players.
After retiring from international cricket in 2013, Hussey gradually developed an extensive coaching career. He became particularly well known for his association with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, where he worked as a batting coach under head coach Stephen Fleming.
His coaching experience also extends to international cricket. Hussey was part of England’s coaching setup during the 2022 T20 World Cup, when the team won the tournament in Australia. His understanding of the shorter format and experience working with players from different cricketing backgrounds have made him a respected figure in the coaching community.
More recently, he served as head coach of Welsh Fire in The Hundred competition. These experiences have helped him develop a broader understanding of modern cricket, particularly the tactical and technical demands of T20 competitions.
Hussey’s appointment is also significant because he had attracted interest from England’s coaching setup. England head coach Stephen Fleming had previously explored the possibility of bringing him into the team’s backroom staff as a batting coach. However, Hussey ultimately chose the Australian arrangement, which allows him to continue his existing franchise cricket and broadcasting commitments.
The flexible nature of his new responsibilities will enable him to remain involved in different cricketing competitions while contributing to Australia’s national team preparations.
Australia’s immediate focus will be on the upcoming international season, including the T20I series against England and the Test matches against New Zealand. The team will subsequently begin preparations for the 2027 Ashes, one of the most important contests in international cricket.
The addition of Hussey could prove particularly beneficial for Australia’s batting department. His international experience, understanding of different formats and knowledge of modern cricketing techniques are expected to help players improve their consistency and decision-making.
With the 2027 Ashes, the ODI World Cup and the major T20 tournaments in 2028 approaching, Australia is looking to build a strong coaching structure capable of supporting the team across formats.
Hussey’s expanded role reflects Cricket Australia’s intention to make use of experienced former players as it prepares for the next generation of international challenges. His involvement is expected to add valuable expertise to the coaching group and provide additional support to Australian cricketers during a crucial period.