Michael Hussey becomes Australia's coaching set-up for Ashes 2027, ODI World Cup 2027 after CSK exit ABSTE

In a landmark development for international cricket management, former Australian stalwart Michael Hussey has formally joined Cricket Australia’s coaching set up. Following his departure from his long-standing role as batting coach with the five-time IPL title holders Chennai Super Kings (CSK), "Mr. Cricket" steps straight into an expanded, high-stakes consultancy assignment with the men's national side.

Hussey named Australia's coaching consultant for Ashes, ODI World Cup

The strategic appointment sees Hussey locked in as a key coaching consultant under head coach Andrew McDonald for Australia’s upcoming marathons: the 2027 Ashes series in England and the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Concurrently, Cricket Australia has assigned Hussey a dedicated remit as a T20 Strategic Advisor leading into two historic milestones on the 2028 horizon, cricket’s return to the Olympic Stage at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted on home soil by Australia and New Zealand.

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“I am extremely excited about being a part of the team in a more formal and meaningful role in the coming years," Hussey said. “This team has achieved so much in recent times, to which I hope I can add value to the coaching and playing groups ahead of what will be an exciting and challenging period," Hussey's statement read.

While Michael Hussey previously logged brief stints as a seasonal batting advisor under Andrew McDonald ahead of Australia’s annual Perth Test, his broader availability had long been limited by his broadcasting work and head coaching engagements with the IPL's Chennai Super Kings and The Hundred's Welsh Fire.

Although Stephen Fleming sought to recruit his former teammate upon stepping into the England Test coaching role earlier this year, Hussey opted against joining the English setup. Instead, he committed to an expanded, long-term consulting role with Australia—a partnership that launches with the upcoming T20I series against England before shifting to preparations for the home Test series against New Zealand in Perth.

Hussey’s arrival signals Cricket Australia's commitment to building seamless tactical depth across formats during a generational transition for the national team.

Michael Hussey’s departure from Chennai Super Kings marks the close of one of the most fruitful player-to-coach journeys in modern franchise cricket.

As a player, Hussey was a pivotal figure in CSK’s early dominance, famously scoring a century in the franchise's very first IPL match in 2008 and later clinching the Orange Cap in 2013 with 733 runs. Transitioning to the support staff as batting coach in 2018 alongside head coach Stephen Fleming, Hussey played an instrumental role in shaping the franchise’s dynamic batting identity. Under his tutelage, CSK captured IPL titles in 2018, 2021, and 2023, while developing high-profile talents like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, and Shivam Dube into international-grade stroke-makers.

Hussey’s exit from the IPL setup frees him from year-round franchise commitments, clearing the deck for him to commit fully to Australia’s international calendar across the red-ball, 50-over, and 20-over formats.

2027 Ashes, ODI World Cup 2027 Hussey's major assignments

The primary cornerstone of Hussey's red-ball mandate centers on the 2027 Ashes tour of England. Having featured in multiple Ashes campaigns during his 79-Test career—scoring 6,235 Test runs at an average of 51.52—Hussey brings invaluable domain knowledge regarding English conditions, seam movement, and Dukes ball dynamics.

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Australia’s red-ball batting lineup faces critical strategic questions over the coming seasons as key senior batters near the latter stages of their careers. Hussey’s role as a batting consultant will formalize his previous short-term stints with Andrew McDonald’s squad, providing structured mentorship, tactical game planning, and individual technical refinement. Interestingly, Hussey chose the Australian role despite interest from England's Test setup under Stephen Fleming, choosing instead to bring his expertise back to the green and gold.
Beyond the Ashes, Hussey's input will begin immediately, assisting with player preparations for upcoming home Test series against New Zealand and providing dedicated mentorship ahead of major Test assignments.

In the 50-over arena, Hussey’s consultancy will focus heavily on squad planning and tactical execution for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup in Southern Africa.

Hussey’s own playing career was defined by middle-order composure, pristine running between the wickets, and calculating high-pressure chases, qualities that proved decisive during Australia’s 2007 World Cup victory in the Caribbean. With the ODI format evolving toward higher scoring rates while still requiring tactical adaptability on varied subcontinental and African surfaces, Hussey’s insight will be crucial in balancing boundary hitting with mid-innings stability.

Working closely with Andrew McDonald and Australia's selection panel, Hussey will assist in scouting, opposition breakdown, and middle-order structuring to ensure Australia remains at the forefront of 50-over cricket as they target back-to-back global titles.

While his consultant role spans all formats, Cricket Australia has designated a specialised mandate for Hussey in the T20 arena, serving as T20 Strategic Advisor through the 2028 cycle.

This dual-target focus revolves around two marquee events:

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games (LA28): Cricket’s historic re-entry into the Olympic Games for the first time since 1900 represents a historic shift for national sports governing bodies. As Olympic T20 cricket demands unique tournament management, compact roster sizes, and high-intensity match schedules, Hussey will oversee campaign planning, physical preparation models, and opposition analytics.

The 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: Co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, the 2028 edition represents a premier opportunity for Australia to claim a T20 World Cup title on home soil.

Hussey brings elite T20 pedigree to this assignment. In addition to his six seasons coaching in the IPL, Hussey served as a consultant for England during their victorious 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign down under. His familiarity with modern matchup analytics, powerplay strategies, and death-overs execution will give Australia a distinct competitive edge as Test commitments frequently pull head coach Andrew McDonald toward red-ball priorities.