If you take that job I will never speak to you again, Ricky Ponting tells Michael Hussey on England coaching role

Ricky Ponting has made his position clear regarding Michael Hussey’s potential move to England’s coaching setup. The former Australian captain said he recently met Hussey and strongly opposed him taking on the role of England’s batting coach, which has reportedly been offered to him following Stephen Fleming’s appointment as England’s Test head coach.

Ponting delivered a direct message during their meeting, stating that accepting the England position would damage their relationship. The warning reflects Ponting’s view that Hussey should consider other opportunities that may be available to him in the cricket world rather than joining the English setup.

“I saw Mike Hussey last week and said, ‘if you take that job I will never speak to you again!’ I think I have scared him off! I am not sure what he is going to do. I believe there might be a job in the pipeline for him around the Australian team, so I am not sure of his status,” Ponting said while speaking to Sky Sports News in his role as ambassador, investor and global advisor for Century Cricket, a coaching and talent ID centre launching in Manhattan, New York.

Hussey has attracted interest for the England batting coach role in the months since Fleming took charge of England’s Test programme. Fleming and Hussey have previous working experience together at Chennai Super Kings, where Fleming served as head coach, and Hussey held the batting coach’s position. Their established relationship and shared success at the Indian Premier League franchise made Hussey a natural candidate for the England role.

Hussey and Fleming’s Chennai Super Kings connection

Hussey’s cricket credentials include a distinguished international career spanning 79 Tests, 185 ODIs and 38 T20Is for Australia between 2005 and 2013. Beyond his playing days, he has contributed to coaching roles at the highest level. He worked with England during their T20 World Cup triumph in Australia in 2022, giving him direct experience of working within the England system during a major tournament success.

Also Read: Joe Root warns England players to celebrate carefully after Lord’s Test win over Pakistan

Hussey’s coaching and playing background

England’s recent series victory against Pakistan proceeded without Fleming’s involvement in the squad, though the head coach’s appointment has since reshaped the coaching structure. Ponting’s intervention suggests he believes Hussey has alternative pathways in cricket, potentially including opportunities within the Australian team setup or a promotion in his franchise role, such as the Chennai Super Kings head coach position. The exact status of Hussey’s decision remains unclear following Ponting’s warning.