Former captain Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey have ruled out the possibility of ending their retirements to bolster Australia’s inexperienced batting line-up in the Ashes.
Former captain Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey have ruled out the possibility of ending their retirements to bolster Australia’s inexperienced batting line-up in the Ashes.
Australia have struggled for runs on their troubled tour of India, which they trail 3-0 heading into the fourth and final Test in Delhi this week.
Coach Mickey Arthur admitted this week his side were missing the experience of Ponting, the second-leading runscorer in Test history, and Hussey after they both retired during the Australian summer.
Arthur said the door was still open for Hussey to make a return while Ponting collected the Sheffield Shield Player-of-the-Year award last night after finishing the domestic season as the leading runscorer with 875 runs at an average of 87.50.
Ponting will be in England when the Ashes begin in Nottingham on July 10 after agreeing a short-term deal with Surrey, but denied he might make a comeback when he collected his award.
“I haven’t had the phone call yet,” said Ponting, who will line up for Tasmania in the Shield final in Hobart this week.
“International cricket has long passed me by and I’ve just been really excited about giving back to Tasmanian cricket whatever I could for this season.
“The decision you make to retire, when you do, is a very big one. I know I put a lot of time and thought into making the decision that I made for all the right reasons.”
Hussey also ruled out any thoughts he might return to the Baggy Green following Arthur’s comments.
The 37-year-old shocked Australian cricket when he called time on his career in January to spend more time with his family.
“It’s extremely flattering,” Hussey said.
“But I’ve moved on and I really don’t want to be back in that pressure-cooker environment, particularly leading into the Ashes.
“It’s going to be an extremely stressful time for all the boys. I’m really looking forward to having a winter at home and just having some time with the family and being part of some normal life.
“I feel very lucky to have been able to leave on my own terms and leave when I wanted to.”
Following Australia’s six-wicket defeat in Mohali this week, which relinquished the Border-Gavaskar Trophy back to India, Arthur said: “We’d certainly listen to Mike Hussey if Mike Hussey came knocking at our door.
“But that’s a hypothetical at the moment. He’s retired. We’ve moved on now. Yeah we miss him. We miss the aura of Ricky Ponting.
“But I’m hoping that these younger players will take over that mantle in time to come. They’re nowhere near ready yet.”
