Australian cricket legend Mike Hussey will lead the Sydney Thunder in Big Bash 2015-16 | BBL 05 in his final season. It was also announced that the Spotless Stadium will be the new home ground for the Thunder for the next 10 years. Michael Hussey joined the Thunders in BBL 03 and has been one of the prime reasons that the Thunders have transformed from a low ranking team to someone who can give the best BBL teams a run for their money in the T20 format.
Michael Hussey will lead the Sydney Thunder in Big Bash 2015-16
The Thunders confirmed that this will the final year playing for Mike Hussey and that he had been re-signed for his hunger to see Thunder winning the BBL. Hussey has scored 435 runs for the Thunders in 14 matches at the strike rate for 135.51. He also blasted 96 in the team’s season opener in last year’s BBL.
“We showed a lot of improvement during BBL|04, and I’ve definitely still got that hunger to win which is the main reason to go around one more time. Nick (Cummins) and Paddy (Upton) have been working to put together a really strong squad for BBL05, and I think the Thunder will push for finals this season - that’s something I definitely want to be a part of.”, said Hussey.
He also added that,”For me, the job’s definitely not done at the Thunder.”
Though it would be Mr.Cricket’s last outing in Australia as a player, he quoted that he was not sure of retiring just yet. He said that he could be India bound, once the BBL 05 finishes. Hussey was instrumental in Chennai Super Kings reaching the finals in the IPL 2015, where they lost to Mumbai Indians.
Previously Michael Hussey played for Mumbai Indians, where his performance was not upto the mark. Hence, the owners decided to send him back into the player’s auction, where Chennai decided to buy him back as a backup for Brendon McCullum and a batting mentor.
Hussey spent most of his season sitting on the bench, as Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum wreaked havoc on the bowlers. He got his chance in the late stages of the tournament as McCullum had to leave for New Zealand’s international assignment. Hussey scored a wonderful half century to beat Mumbai Indians in the playoff and qualify for the finals. He could not repeat his act in the finals and CSK lost the finals.
The Spotless stadium has the capacity to seat 22,000 spectators and will be Sydney Thunders’ home till the 2024-25 season. The Thunders’ played 2 games last season at the Spotless stadium and lost both. “We believe that we have the best stadium in Australia to watch BBL cricket, and I can’t wait to see Mike and the rest of the team take the field in front of a packed house,” said Thunder General Manager Nick Cummins.
Thunder BBL 05 contracted players: Fawad Ahmed, Aiden Blizzard, Pat Cummins, Jake Doran, Chris Hartley, Mike Hussey (c), Jacques Kallis, Ben Rohrer, Shane Watson.
