Hussey to call it a day
Mike Hussey has announced he will retire from international cricket after the third and final Test with Sri Lanka next week at Sydney.
The 37-year-old left-handed batsman has hit 6,183 runs in 78 Tests at an average of 51.52 but admitted he had been considering quitting the game for some time, with the idea of long periods spent on the road with Australia on tours of India and England holding little appeal.
He said: "Leading into the Australian summer, I knew that my time was pretty close.
"I just wanted to see how I felt throughout the Australian summer and my feelings haven't really changed, getting towards the end of this summer.
"I know I am making the right decision. I think the clincher for me was when I started looking ahead towards the Indian and the Ashes series.
"I didn't have the excitement and buzz about facing the challenges of those two tours that I felt like I should have.
Australia stalwart Mike Hussey goes into his final Test next week against Sri Lanka at the SCG with over 6,000 runs to his name at an average of 51.52
"For me, that meant that I was making the right decision. I think for two tough tours where you are away from home for a long time, you need to really be 100 per cent committed to the challenges that are going to be presenting everyone."
Hussey missed Australia's one-day tour of the United Kingdom this year after his fourth child was born prematurely, and also decided to withdraw from the Champions League T20 for personal reasons.
He is grateful to have been able to step down from international cricket under his own steam, though, much like his friend and former captain Ricky Ponting who also retired this year.
"I'm quite lucky in that respect, to be able to go out on my terms," he said. "Not too many people get to do that. I'm very fortunate in that respect.
"I still enjoy the game but there's a lot of things that I won't miss as well, like that sick feeling you get in your stomach before you have to go out and bat every time or the travel and the time away from home, I certainly won't miss that.
"There's so many wonderful things that I will definitely miss as well, like the camaraderie you get in the dressing room, singing the team song, winning Test matches for Australia. It's fantastic fun.
"That will be hard. And I would love to just keep doing that forever if you could, but there's so many other factors that come into play as well."
Hussey will remain involved with the Western Australia Warriors and the Perth Scorchers for the remainder of the domestic season before making a decision about his future.
A statement from Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said: "Michael Hussey has been a vital contributor to many Australian team wins over his very successful Test cricket career.
"Affectionately known as 'Mr Cricket', he has always been thoroughly committed to meticulous preparation and the highest levels of physical fitness which have in turn delivered consistent performances in all forms of the game.
"An incredibly reliable player and leader within the Australian cricket team, Michael will retire from Test cricket with a record that puts him amongst the very best Australian batsmen of all time.
"Beyond his contributions to team success, he will be remembered for the way he has carried himself on and off the field - and in doing so he has won the respect and admiration of players, officials and fans all around the world.
"In congratulating him on a great Test career, we wish him well and hope to see him stay close to the game after his playing days are over."
