Chappell says he never told Mike Hussey to retire
By ANITuesday, February 22, 2011
MELBOURNE - Australian cricket selector Greg Chappell has refuted suggestions in the media that he had advised Mike Hussey to retire.
Labelling such a claim as “untrue”, Chappell said that he had met Hussey in Perth last month, but did not tell him to consider retiring from international cricket in the wake of his hamstring surgery.
Hussey was livid at national selectors when he was told he was too much of a risk to take to the World Cup due to recent surgery on his hamstring.
The 35-year-old repeatedly stated he would have been fit for Australia’s second group match and proved that to be correct with a strong training session with Western Australia on Sunday.
Hussey was even selected for Western Australia’s current Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania, only to be withdrawn when Cricket Australia intervened.
Had Hussey played for Western Australia, it would have been a major embarrassment for Cricket Australia, who feared the veteran would not recover in time to play a meaningful part at the World Cup.
Chappell said there was nothing sinister behind Hussey’s late scratching for the Warriors.
“In the nets yesterday he was pretty excited by the way he pulled up, but in discussions between Cricket Australia medical staff and West Australian medical staff, they decided it was probably imprudent to try and rush it,” Chappell said.
“They decided to stick to the original plan - try and play some club cricket on the weekend and resume on March 3.
“They jointly agreed to stick to that plan.”
Chappell said it was “out of the question” that Hussey could re-join the Australian World Cup squad should a player over there suffer an injury.
“Once he’s been withdrawn he can’t come in, even if it is to replace someone else,” he said.
Hussey’s career appeared to be fading away last year before the West Australian regained his magic touch, plundering 570 runs at 63.33 during Australia’s 3-1 Ashes loss to England.
The 59-Test veteran is also one of Australia’s most important players in the one-day side, averaging 51.96 across 151 internationals. (ANI)
