Michael Hussey joins Australia as batting consultant to the 2027 Ashes and 2028 Olympics

Michael Hussey has joined Australia's coaching staff as a long-term batting consultant, Cricket Australia announced on Friday, 6 November 2026. The 51-year-old former batter will work with the side through the 2027 Ashes, the 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2028 T20 World Cup and Los Angeles Olympics, BBC Sport and ESPNcricinfo reported.

His first assignment is the five-match T20 series against England from 21 November, which ends on 2 December.

Why Australia want Hussey now

Australia's Test batting has struggled for a year. Two of last winter's Ashes Tests ended inside two days, Bangladesh bowled Australia out for 198 in August on the way to their first Test win in Australia, and South Africa dismissed them for 99 and 111 in the second and third Tests of a 2-1 series defeat. The home series against Bangladesh was drawn 1-1.

Hussey has worked as a short-term consultant for Australia several times. The new deal makes the role formal. "I am extremely excited about being a part of the team in a more formal and meaningful role in the coming years," he said in a statement.

Head coach Andrew McDonald said Hussey's skills were "complementary to the coaches and players" and praised "his qualities as a person".

Australia's schedule to the 2027 Ashes

Who is Mike Hussey

Nicknamed "Mr Cricket", Hussey did not play a Test until he was 30 and then became an all-format regular until he retired from international cricket in early 2013. He played 79 Tests at an average of 51.52, plus 185 ODIs and 38 T20Is, winning the 2007 World Cup and the 2006 and 2009 Champions Trophies.

As a coach he is head coach of Welsh Fire in the Hundred, worked at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL under Stephen Fleming, and was England's batting consultant when they won the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.

What it means for Pakistan fans

Pakistan do not meet Australia in this run of fixtures, but Hussey's batting work will shape the side Pakistan face at the 2027 ODI World Cup in southern Africa. Follow every series Pakistani fans watch on our cricket today page, and see how to stream matches with our Tamasha live cricket guide.