With Michael Hussey declining the position of England Test batting coach in favour of a part-time consulting with Cricket Australia, Stephen Fleming’s support team will have a big void ahead of a rigorous international schedule.
In August 2026, Fleming, who succeeded Brendon McCullum as head coach of the England Test team in late July 2026, made an approach to Michael Hussey about becoming the batting coach. Hussey and Fleming have an 18-year professional relationship that was developed throughout several stints at the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, when Hussey made contributions as a player and later as a batting coach.
Michael Hussey refusal was a significant early setback for the incoming head coach because of their shared history, which made him a natural first target for Fleming as he put together his new England setup.
The Guardian claimed that the 51-year-old former Australian batter turned down a full-time international commitment in favour of a flexible part-time consulting position with Cricket Australia, which would allow him to continue playing franchise cricket and broadcasting. As of September 2, neither Cricket Australia nor the England and Wales Cricket Board had made the announcement public.
Why did Michael Hussey decline the England position?
Michael Hussey decision was primarily motivated by his wish to maintain flexibility. He was unwilling to give up his broadcasting duties and franchise cricket responsibilities at this stage of his career if he had been appointed permanently to England.
That inclination was already evident in his 2026 timetable. During the year, the former Australian batter was Welsh Fire’s head coach in The Hundred, a high-intensity, short-format position that fit his preferred setup.
He had previously shown that he was comfortable contributing to the England setup without a long-term contract by joining the team’s support group on a part-time basis for the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which England won. That concept is replicated by the Cricket Australia consultancy, which allows him to continue playing Australian cricket while maintaining his wider itinerary.
What does the opening for England’s batting coach mean for their forthcoming schedule?
Due to Michael Hussey unavailability, England will need to appoint a batting coach at a time when there is significant fixture pressure. Throughout the current Test series against Pakistan, which England leads 2-0 going into September 2026, Marcus Trescothick has been filling in temporarily.
Before England travels to South Africa, Bangladesh, and Australia—three tours that precede a home Ashes series set for the following summer—Fleming must now announce a permanent appointment. It’s unclear if the ECB will attempt to formalise Trescothick’s role or seek a new outsider candidate. England’s preparations for one of the busiest periods of their 2017 calendar are further complicated by the vacancy, and time is running out.
