Hussey to join Notts once more
Australia batsman David Hussey has signed up for a remarkable eighth stint with Nottinghamshire.
The 35-year-old, who made his Notts debut in 2004, will return to Trent Bridge in June to lead the Outlaws in the Friends Life t20. He will also be available for five LV= County Championship and four Clydesdale Bank 40 games.
Hussey has played 69 one-day and 39 Twenty20 internationals but surprisingly, considering his first-class batting average of 53.28, has not won Test honours. After a mixed one-day series with Sri Lanka this month, he has been left out of Australia’s squad for the first two ODIs versus West Indies this week.
The right-handed batsman, who bowls useful off-spin, last represented Notts in 2011 when as FLt20 captain he scored 357 competition runs at an average of 39.66.
Notts director of cricket Mick Newell said: "David has been my first thought when recruiting overseas players for 10 years now and he adds a lot of value in all formats.
"For me, he is more than good enough to have warranted Test selection and to have a player of that calibre with an affinity for a particular county is rare and something that we have embraced.
"It has become increasingly difficult to sign a quality overseas player for an entire season but we are pleased that David and Ed Cowan will both spend a good amount of time with us."
David Hussey, who said: “I have a great relationship with Mick Newell and Chris Read", last played for Nottinghamshire back in 2011
Hussey, who holds the Notts record for Twenty20 appearances, will take over from compatriot Cowan who is scheduled to leave the club at the end of June.
Hussey said: “There are lots of things I enjoy about playing for Notts but the characters in the dressing room, the atmosphere at Trent Bridge and the fact that the team are always competitive are the main reasons.
“Captaining Notts Outlaws is something that I really enjoy and my method is to try and think two overs ahead of everybody else and to bring some stability in pressure situations.
“I have a great relationship with Mick Newell and Chris Read and we have some good discussions about how we want to play things.
“When I look at the squad I think that there is the potential for us to make it to finals day, but also to mount a serious challenge in the championship.
“I played all of the championship-winning season in 2005 and contributed in 2010, and those trophies rank amongst the best achievements of my career.”
Top-order batsman Cowan, who played for Gloucestershire last year and hit 513 first-class runs at 46.63, is expected to represent Australia in the Ashes.
Hussey added: "I've played a lot of cricket against Eddie and he is a high-class player with great technical ability and a solid temperament.
"He is used to playing in bowler-friendly conditions in Tasmania, where the wickets tend to be similar to Trent Bridge, and he is a good player of pace which bodes well for Nottinghamshire."
Hussey, whose brother Mike retired from international cricket last month, is anticipating a keenly-contested Ashes and expects his compatriots to make the fancied hosts fight hard to retain the urn.
"The Australian Test team is in transition following the retirement of Ricky Ponting and my brother but beware of the wounded lion," said Hussey.
"James Pattinson is the pick of some young bowlers who could cause England some problems and I'm hopeful that Australia can come out on top."
Notts are yet to contract an overseas player for the last month of the season but hope to secure the services of Cowan or Hussey subject to international commitments.
