Retiring Michael Hussey said yesterday there is quality and quantity to replace him, despite becoming the second experienced batsman to quit Australian cricket’s middle order ahead of a critical 12 months.
Hussey’s announcement on Saturday that he will retire from international cricket after this week’s final Sydney Test against Sri Lanka, came a month after Ricky Ponting revealed he was calling time on his 17-year career.
His departure has created another middle-order batting vacancy going into February’s tour of India, followed by Ashes series in England and Australia.
However, Hussey, 37, who is to play his 79th and last Test this week, insisted that there was talent available to step in after his surprise decision to retire, despite averaging close to 80 this Australian summer.
“I’m not worried about the team whatsoever. We’ve got some fantastic candidates to come in — probably too many to name,” Hussey told reporters. “Maybe [brother] David Hussey could get a run — one Hussey out, one Hussey in.”
“History has shown players have come and gone, but the game continues to move forward and it’ll be no different with me,” he said.
With Phil Hughes already recalled to replace Ponting, Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja is almost certain to get first crack at Hussey’s spot, while all-rounder Glenn Maxwell is in the 13-man squad for the Sydney Test as injured Shane Watson’s replacement.
The younger Hussey and fellow Victorian Rob Quiney — used and discarded already this summer — will also be among candidates, along with Alex Doolan and Callum Ferguson.
Hussey said his decision to walk away, mostly for family reasons as he did not want to commit to a six-month-plus stint away from home next year, had shocked his teammates.
He rang them all personally on Saturday after breaking the news to Australia captain Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur.
Paceman Mitchell Starc admitted he was surprised and said Hussey’s replacement would have big shoes to fill.
“He’s still in great form with the bat, as we’ve seen through this summer so far,” Starc said yesterday. “He’s going out the way he wants, by the sound of things.
Badminton world No. 3 Anders Antonsen clinched his first Indonesia Open title yesterday after beating Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, while South Korea’s An Se-young won her second championship in Jakarta. The 28-year-old Dane sank world No. 7 Chou at the Indonesian capital’s Istora Senayan arena, winning 22-20, 21-14 in a 60-minute match to secure the prestigious Super 1000 event. Antonsen came out on top in a tightly contested first game before cruising to victory in the second. In a more closely fought women’s singles final, South Korean ace and world No. 1 An fought back from one game down to beat China’s
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a
Italy crashed to a 3-0 loss away to Norway, as the four-time FIFA World Cup champions made a disastrous start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday, while Belgium had to settle for a draw in North Macedonia. Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland all scored in the first half in pouring rain in Oslo as Norway made it a night to forget for Italy, who missed out on the past two World Cups. “I have no explanation. Our supporters don’t deserve this kind of match. We need to do some soul-searching. It’s unacceptable,” Italy captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
RSS