England’s New Test Coach Eyes Michael Hussey for Batting Role
Stephen Fleming, the newly appointed head coach for England’s Test cricket team, is swiftly making changes to his support team. Reports indicate that he has reached out to former Australian cricketer Michael Hussey to take on the role of batting coach. While the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) hasn’t made a formal offer yet, it’s believed that Hussey is Fleming’s top choice as England looks to embrace a fresh chapter in red-ball cricket.
Currently, Hussey, 51, is coaching the Welsh Fire in The Hundred tournament. He has not yet decided if he will accept this new position. If he does accept, it would mark a reunion of two respected figures in cricket, who have enjoyed a close working relationship for almost twenty years.
The two first collaborated during the initial Indian Premier League (IPL) season in 2008 while playing for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Although Fleming played only one season with CSK before taking on the head coach role in 2009, he became instrumental in building one of the most successful teams in IPL history.
Hussey stood out as one of CSK’s key overseas players, amassing 2,213 runs over 64 matches between 2008 and 2015. After retiring from playing, he transitioned into coaching.
A Successful Partnership
Fleming and Hussey worked together for about 15 years at CSK, initially with Hussey excelling as a batsman. He even won the Orange Cap in 2013 after scoring a remarkable 733 runs. Later, he joined the coaching staff, and together they fostered a culture of consistency and calmness in leadership, significantly contributing to several IPL championship wins.
Earlier this year, their partnership concluded when Fleming departed from CSK after the 2026 IPL season.
Fleming’s knowledge of Hussey’s coaching style and ability to manage players likely makes him the preferred candidate for England’s batting coach. Additionally, there are indications that Fleming may also seek to bring in former CSK bowling coach Eric Simons to bolster the pace attack.
Even though Fleming is now England’s permanent Test coach, he will not take the lead immediately. Marcus Trescothick will manage England’s upcoming three-Test home series against Pakistan, starting on August 19. Fleming will officially take charge during England’s three-Test tour of South Africa, which begins on December 17 in Johannesburg. Meanwhile, Australian bowling coach David Saker will remain in position for the Pakistan series.
In Summary
As Stephen Fleming gears up for his role as England’s Test coach, the cricket community watches closely to see if Michael Hussey will join him as the batting coach. The combination of their experience and history could pave the way for exciting times ahead for England in Test cricket.
