Michael Edward Killeen Hussey (born 27 May 1975) is an Australian cricket coach, commentator and former international cricketer who represented Australia in all three formats of the game. Widely known by the nickname "Mr Cricket", Hussey was a relative latecomer to international cricket, making his One Day International debut at the age of 28 and his Test debut at 30, having already accumulated 15,313 first-class runs before his Test cap. He went on to enjoy a highly prolific international career and was rated the top-ranked ODI batsman in the world in 2006.
| Full name | Michael Edward Killeen Hussey |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 27 May 1975 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Nickname | Mr Cricket |
| Role | Batsman |
| Domestic team (Australia) | Western Warriors (vice-captain) |
| IPL team | Chennai Super Kings |
| Big Bash team | Sydney Thunder |
| International retirement | 29 December 2012 |
| Retirement from all cricket | End of 2015–16 season |
| Current roles | Coach, commentator |
Before breaking into the Australian national side, Hussey built a substantial first-class record, scoring 15,313 first-class runs prior to his Test debut. In Australian domestic cricket he played for the Western Warriors, where he served as vice-captain. He also had extensive experience in English county cricket, turning out for three different counties.
Hussey debuted in ODIs at the age of 28 and in Tests at 30, an unusually late entry into international cricket given the strength of Australian batting at the time. Despite this, he quickly established himself as one of the most consistent batsmen in world cricket, attaining the No. 1 ranking among ODI batsmen in 2006.
During his time with the Australian team, Hussey was part of squads that won several major ICC tournaments:
Hussey played in the Indian Premier League for the Chennai Super Kings. After retiring from international cricket, he continued to play in Australia's Big Bash League for the Sydney Thunder, whom he captained to their first and only BBL title.
Following his retirement, Hussey has worked as a cricket coach and commentator.
Hussey's career is often cited as an example of perseverance, given his lengthy first-class apprenticeship before international selection. The volume of runs he scored at domestic level prior to his Test debut, along with his rapid rise to the top of the ODI batting rankings, contributed to the moniker "Mr Cricket". His role in three ICC tournament triumphs and a Big Bash League title further cemented his reputation as a dependable middle-order batsman across formats.