Veteran Australia batsmen Michael Hussey has announced he will retire from Test cricket following the third Test against Sri Lanka starting at the SCG on Thursday.
The 37-year-old Hussey revealed his decision on Saturday, adding that he will play both one-day series against Sri Lanka and West Indies following the SCG Test.
He has scored 6,183 runs at an average of 51.52 from 78 Tests, his career including 19 centuries and 29 half-centuries.
Hussey has made 185 one-day international appearances, scoring 5,442 runs at 48.15, and he was an integral member of the Australia squad that won the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.
He says his decision is based on a desire to spend more time with his young family.
"I was quite excited to tell them (children) that I'm not going to go away and play for Australia any more," Hussey told the Nine Network.
"They were happy but not as excited as I thought they were going to be. So it was a bit of a shock."
Hussey says any Test match is a stressful experience, but next week could be different.
"I feel like I can come into this last Test match with no pressure whatsoever," he said.
"I can just really go out there and enjoy it."
Hussey's rise to the Test ranks did not come until late in his career, making his debut against West Indies in 2005 aged 30.
He made an inauspicious start with innings of 1 and 29 at the Gabba but posted back-to-back centuries in the following two Tests in Hobart and Adelaide.
His place in the Australia Test XI had come into question at various stages during the past three years but he has repaid the faith shown in him again this summer.
Hussey's recent form has been excellent and he is averaging 180.00 after two Tests in the current series against Sri Lanka with scores of 115 not out, 31 not out and 34 in Hobart and Melbourne.
He had earlier scored two centuries in last month's three-Test series against South Africa.
"I know how low I felt when my head was on the chopping block and I was probably one innings away from maybe being dropped from the team," Hussey said.
"It's not a nice place to be in. That's one thing about playing for Australia, there is always a lot stress and a lot of pressure to perform."
The Western Australian's departure places pressure on Australia's selectors to settle on a suitable batting line-up by the end of the India Test tour in February-March ahead of the Ashes series in England starting in July.
His retirement will also leave Australia with a significant leadership void, with the decision following that of former captain Ricky Ponting to retire last month.
The immediate playing future of vice-captain Shane Watson is also in doubt after he was ruled out of the SCG Test with a calf injury.
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland says Hussey has been a true servant at the Test level.
"Michael Hussey has been a vital contributor to many Australian team wins over his very successful Test cricket career," he said in a statement.
"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."
ABC/AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, perth-6000 First posted December 29, 2012 18:30:41
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