Mr Cricket happy to help Poms in Ashes
ENGLAND assistant coach and Australian batting legend Mike Hussey says he would be happy to help them in the Ashes series against his own country next summer if asked by the Test head coach Brendon McCullum.
In modern coaching, it is not unusual for former cricketers to join other nations or assist foreign players in domestic T20 leagues, but Hussey is the highest-profile Australian to be involved with an England side. He played three Ashes series between 2006 and 2011, averaging 59.27 with the bat.
Hussey, 47, admitted that the recent offer from England’s new white-ball coach, Matthew Mott, himself a former Australian state player, to
work at the T20 World Cup did take him aback – and that taking on Australia at the MCG on Friday would be “weird”.
“I was on holiday in Western Australia when Motty called and said, ‘What do you reckon?’ Rob Key (the ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket) followed it up as well,” Hussey said. “I had to think a while, I must admit. It did catch me by surprise. It was just a great opportunity, though. I’m really enjoying it. This is a fantastic bunch of guys and a calm environment. That will hold them in good stead in a big tournament.”
There has been some mickey-taking in the dressing room too.
“It is funny listening to Ben Stokes talk like an Aussie around the dressing room,” Hussey said. “Plenty of impressions have been done. It is all in good humour. For me, there’s a bigger picture than the Australia
versus England rivalry.
“It’s a great opportunity to be involved with a new environment. Hopefully I can impart some of my knowledge and help a few players. It doesn’t matter whether they’re Indian, Australian, New Zealand or English, I just enjoy developing relationships and watching the guys get better.
“It will be a weird feeling, hoping England win the game on Friday, but my mind hasn’t even gone there yet. All that stuff about (possibly) knocking Australia out of the tournament, they’re distractions.”
On the prospect of assisting England in the Ashes, Hussey said: “I wouldn’t have any issues whatsoever.”