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Mike Hussey to retire at end of summer.
- Thread starter AlanJLegend
- Start date
chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
Well lets look at the options for Australia for Mike Hussey replacements.
Usman Khawaja (this season: 438 @ 39; career 4045 @ 43)
Solid player but has been found out in his short Test career due his inability to rotate the strike and issues with the swing new ball outside off stump. Has improved some of technique issues in the last two seasons in England and Australia. Though he has been that dominate at domestic level as he was when he first came on the scene. Improved his fielding, but would be liability at 3rd slip. Can bowl some medium pace but it pretty random crap. Will probably get first shot due to ODI players having no FC matches to push for selection.
George Bailey (this season: 169 @ 28, career: 5586 @ 39)
Would be like for like replacement for Hussey. Lower middle order batsmen, captaincy ability and decent gully fielder. Only problem is his lack of runs this season and generally inconsistency throughout his career. He hasn't looked out of place at International level in ODIs and T20Is. For mine needs more runs at FC level, but he may not play another FC game this season.
Callum Ferguson (this season: 463 @ 42, career: 4295 @ 36)
An outside change, but always 'looked' like a Test standard batsmen when he gets going. A good start to the career. If he continue to have a big season, he could be seen as a project player at 6. I don't think he has the application to be Test cricketer, when he gets tough Callum goes missing.
Alex Doolan (this season: 409 @ 58, career: 2311 @ 39)
Having a break out season. But reckon the last thing Australia needs is a flash in pan type player. They would be looking for someone who they can develop into a 5-10 year Test career. Though if keeps scoring runs then the home Ashes series is not out of sight.
Mark Cosgrove (this season: 373 @ 37, career: 7975 @ 43)
The fat bastard has the best technique of the batsmen in contention. But I can't see the selectors getting past his weight. Though he is decent seam bowler and handy slip fielder (well when the ball goes straight to him and he doesn't have to dive).
Joe Burns (this season: 305 @ 30, career: 1480 @ 42)
He done some work on his game to improve his short form game. But I think it has made him go backwards in FC cricket. Having a poor season at FC level. Solid batsmen, but he needs a couple more season of work on his game.
Steve Smith (this season: 224 @ 32, career: 2391 @ 41)
Disgusting technique, but finds a way to score runs. Having an average season, so far, but it might be a blessing in disguise. As he likely to miss ODI selection and can push for selection playing FC cricket. Still viewed as all rounder in the selectors eye (even though he doesn't bowl anymore) and good fielder. So he meets the needs of being a multi dimension cricket. Will be smokey for India as spin bowling all rounder, even if he doesn't ball another ball for NSW this season.
Glen Maxwell (this season 90 @ 22, career: 924 @ 42)
Like a lot of young batsmen has a good technique, but a poor temperament due to influx of limited over cricket. If he can work on his temperament I don't think he would far from selection a lower middle order batsmen that can bowl. The new number 6 for Australia? Having a poor season after getting his first chance up the order for Victoria, is not a good sign. He will go down the same path as White and Smith and will have focus more on his batting to get a regular spot in National teams. But unlike though two doesn't try too many things with the ball, so it won't affect his bowling as much.
There is also some outside chances like Dave Hussey, Chris Rogers, Rob Quiney, Brad Haddin, Cameron White and Micheal Klinger. But I reckon the selectors will be looking for a player that is younger or a specialist lower middle order batsmen.
It is also interesting that an average above 40 is par for International selection. I remember when you had to average above 50 to get a look in to Australian team. The pitches are partly to play, but I think it more of an overall sign of the drop in batting standards.
Usman Khawaja (this season: 438 @ 39; career 4045 @ 43)
Solid player but has been found out in his short Test career due his inability to rotate the strike and issues with the swing new ball outside off stump. Has improved some of technique issues in the last two seasons in England and Australia. Though he has been that dominate at domestic level as he was when he first came on the scene. Improved his fielding, but would be liability at 3rd slip. Can bowl some medium pace but it pretty random crap. Will probably get first shot due to ODI players having no FC matches to push for selection.
George Bailey (this season: 169 @ 28, career: 5586 @ 39)
Would be like for like replacement for Hussey. Lower middle order batsmen, captaincy ability and decent gully fielder. Only problem is his lack of runs this season and generally inconsistency throughout his career. He hasn't looked out of place at International level in ODIs and T20Is. For mine needs more runs at FC level, but he may not play another FC game this season.
Callum Ferguson (this season: 463 @ 42, career: 4295 @ 36)
An outside change, but always 'looked' like a Test standard batsmen when he gets going. A good start to the career. If he continue to have a big season, he could be seen as a project player at 6. I don't think he has the application to be Test cricketer, when he gets tough Callum goes missing.
Alex Doolan (this season: 409 @ 58, career: 2311 @ 39)
Having a break out season. But reckon the last thing Australia needs is a flash in pan type player. They would be looking for someone who they can develop into a 5-10 year Test career. Though if keeps scoring runs then the home Ashes series is not out of sight.
Mark Cosgrove (this season: 373 @ 37, career: 7975 @ 43)
The fat bastard has the best technique of the batsmen in contention. But I can't see the selectors getting past his weight. Though he is decent seam bowler and handy slip fielder (well when the ball goes straight to him and he doesn't have to dive).
Joe Burns (this season: 305 @ 30, career: 1480 @ 42)
He done some work on his game to improve his short form game. But I think it has made him go backwards in FC cricket. Having a poor season at FC level. Solid batsmen, but he needs a couple more season of work on his game.
Steve Smith (this season: 224 @ 32, career: 2391 @ 41)
Disgusting technique, but finds a way to score runs. Having an average season, so far, but it might be a blessing in disguise. As he likely to miss ODI selection and can push for selection playing FC cricket. Still viewed as all rounder in the selectors eye (even though he doesn't bowl anymore) and good fielder. So he meets the needs of being a multi dimension cricket. Will be smokey for India as spin bowling all rounder, even if he doesn't ball another ball for NSW this season.
Glen Maxwell (this season 90 @ 22, career: 924 @ 42)
Like a lot of young batsmen has a good technique, but a poor temperament due to influx of limited over cricket. If he can work on his temperament I don't think he would far from selection a lower middle order batsmen that can bowl. The new number 6 for Australia? Having a poor season after getting his first chance up the order for Victoria, is not a good sign. He will go down the same path as White and Smith and will have focus more on his batting to get a regular spot in National teams. But unlike though two doesn't try too many things with the ball, so it won't affect his bowling as much.
There is also some outside chances like Dave Hussey, Chris Rogers, Rob Quiney, Brad Haddin, Cameron White and Micheal Klinger. But I reckon the selectors will be looking for a player that is younger or a specialist lower middle order batsmen.
It is also interesting that an average above 40 is par for International selection. I remember when you had to average above 50 to get a look in to Australian team. The pitches are partly to play, but I think it more of an overall sign of the drop in batting standards.
Last edited:
chaminda_00
Hall of Fame Member
Type of player, not quality of player.
Howe_zat
Audio File
Warner's pretty much set in stone, as far as I can tell.
Furball
Evil Scotsman
He's probably the closest to nailed on but his place is hardly set in stone IMO.
Howe_zat
Audio File
If he fails hard in India then people will talk about it, but he won't be dropped, because 3 other openers are already in the team, the next most likely option is being talked about as playing #6, and he's there being the only good one.
And he won't fail hard in India because he's a good batsman who'll be playing India in the worst mess they've been in for 30 years
And he won't fail hard in India because he's a good batsman who'll be playing India in the worst mess they've been in for 30 years
benchmark00
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Very poor timing, but it's his career I guess.
Certainly less than ideal for the team though. I suppose he doesn't owe them anything but it would have been nice if he gave an inclination.
Certainly less than ideal for the team though. I suppose he doesn't owe them anything but it would have been nice if he gave an inclination.
BoyBrumby
Englishman
You'd imagine Invers et al tried to at least get him to think about it (second batsman on the team sheet and all), so my guess is he's pretty resolute.
I've never been entirely sold on the idea some sportsmen have said that "When you know, you know", but in Huss's case it would really appear to be the case as there's no doubt in my mind he has more to offer.
Should also be noted for the benefit of those quoting his duff record in tests in England (I'd guess he's way over 50 in FC cricket) that his last test innings in Blighty was a ton after a series in which he could barely buy a run & there were shouts (on CW and elsewhere) for him to be dropped.
Shows moral fibre, that.
I've never been entirely sold on the idea some sportsmen have said that "When you know, you know", but in Huss's case it would really appear to be the case as there's no doubt in my mind he has more to offer.
Should also be noted for the benefit of those quoting his duff record in tests in England (I'd guess he's way over 50 in FC cricket) that his last test innings in Blighty was a ton after a series in which he could barely buy a run & there were shouts (on CW and elsewhere) for him to be dropped.
Shows moral fibre, that.
Agent Nationaux
International Coach
One of the nicest Aus players and always scared me since he did well against us.
Contra
Cricketer Of The Year
Completely caught off guard by this one, and not to nitpick in his retirement topic, but there is something a little bit weird about quitting just before 2 of the toughest tours out there.
Anyhow solid player, average flatters him a bit in tests, but was a total beast in limited overs cricket, second behind Dhoni over the last 5-6 years IMO. Speaking of, did he say he was gonna quit limited overs too or just tests?
Anyhow solid player, average flatters him a bit in tests, but was a total beast in limited overs cricket, second behind Dhoni over the last 5-6 years IMO. Speaking of, did he say he was gonna quit limited overs too or just tests?
howardj
International Coach
Stunned at this news
Very rare for a player to retire these days, other than when it's proceeded by a run of dismal form (e.g. Ponting)
Very much going out on his own terms
And will be impossible to replace
Our Ashes stocks, and our prospects on the tour of India, have taken a massive hit
Great bloke, very good player
Very rare for a player to retire these days, other than when it's proceeded by a run of dismal form (e.g. Ponting)
Very much going out on his own terms
And will be impossible to replace
Our Ashes stocks, and our prospects on the tour of India, have taken a massive hit
Great bloke, very good player
andyc
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
All international cricket. Has had enough with being away from the family for long periods of time, so it makes sense that he'd make the call before two big series away.
