Michael Hussey in the change room with his children. Picture: GETTY IMAGES
CRICKET
A flattered Mike Hussey insists he's happily retired from Test ranks and won't consider a shock return in time for this year's Ashes series in England.
With Australia flailing badly on their tour of India, coach Mickey Arthur said he would be open to the idea of Hussey returning to the national set-up.
Hussey was still at the top of his game when he retired in January, with the 37-year-old plundering 527 Test runs at an average of 75.3 during his final domestic summer.
The 79-Test veteran was also in hot form for the Warriors during the final few weeks of the Sheffield Shield season, but he says he has no desire to return to the top level.
"It's extremely flattering," Hussey said when asked about Arthur's SOS call.
"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.
"People probably take it for granted, but I absolutely love knowing that I get to come home every day rather than going to another hotel room or another airport."
Hussey said it was imperative for selectors to keep the faith in the squad in India. But if they were to look for some outside help for the Ashes, Hussey said Twenty20 captain George Bailey would be a good fit.
"He's done well in the one-day arena for Australia and he knows his game pretty well," Hussey said of the 30-year-old.
"He's played a lot of first-class cricket, and having that understanding of your own game is really important when you come into the pressure-cooker situation of a Test match," he said.
Hussey hoped the India tour would end up having a silver lining.
"In some ways, having a tough tour like India can sometimes really galvanise the group."
He is yet to decide whether to play on for Western Australia next season. AAP