Fleming, appointed England’s Test head coach in July 2026, had reportedly approached Hussey in August about joining his support staff. The pair share a long-standing relationship from their time together at Chennai Super Kings, where Hussey worked first as a player and later as a batting coach.
However, according to reports, the 51-year-old former Australia batter preferred a more flexible role with Cricket Australia. The arrangement would allow him to remain involved in franchise cricket and broadcasting while contributing to Australian cricket without the demands of a full-time international coaching position.
Hussey’s decision is understood to be largely driven by his desire to maintain flexibility. He has continued to balance coaching, franchise cricket and broadcasting commitments, including his role as head coach of Welsh Fire in The Hundred in 2026.
He has also previously worked with England in a part-time capacity, joining their support staff for the 2022 T20 World Cup, which England won.
With Hussey unavailable, England must now determine who will take permanent charge of their batting department. Marcus Trescothick has been handling the role on an interim basis during the ongoing Test series against Pakistan.
Fleming faces a busy period ahead, with England scheduled to tour South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia before hosting the Ashes. Finding the right batting coach will therefore be an important part of England’s preparations for the challenging international schedule ahead.
