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Veteran batsman Mike Hussey has urged Cricket Australia not to axe the Test team’s golden oldies, saying he, Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting all deserve new contracts.
CA are keen to build for the future after losing the Ashes to England, leaving the careers of 36-year-old Hussey, 36-year-old Ponting and 35-year-old Katich up in the air.
But Hussey said all three veterans could play crucial roles in coming tours to Sri Lanka and South Africa, and home series against India and New Zealand.
“I still think we’re playing well enough to be in the top 25 players in the country,” Hussey said in Perth on Monday.
“As long as the guys have the burning desire to want to be out there in the middle and want that challenge and the fight of the match – if you start to lose that then maybe it’s time to look away.
“But I’ve seen the characters of Kato and Ricky and there’s never any question about that sort of stuff so I’d be very surprised if they weren’t offered contracts.
“They deserve them so I’m sure there will be no worries with that.”
Katich battled Achilles tendon problems last summer but Hussey said the rock-solid Test opener remained a formidable player when fit.
“He’s been our most consistent batsman for the last three or four years and I think just last year he was in the World Test team of the year,” Hussey said.
“As long as he is 100 per cent fit and batting well enough then I don’t see any reason why he can’t play.”
Hussey, who returned to Perth on Monday after helping guide Chennai Super Kings to the IPL title, said retirement hadn’t crossed his mind.
“I haven’t been thinking about anything like that,” Hussey said.
“I’m still enjoying the challenge out in the middle and while I feel like I can still contribute to the team and I’ve still got that buzz to fight out there in the middle and still have the passion to play for Australia, I still want to carry on.
“I’m looking forward to it (the tour of Sri Lanka) because it’s going to be a tough trip.
“I’ve never been there for a full tour before so I’m looking forward to that challenge and then we’ve got some more tough cricket after that.”
And Hussey said the lure of Australia’s new Twenty20 Big Bash League could even tempt spinner Shane Warne out of retirement.
“You never know with Warney. I played him in both of the games (against Rajasthan) and he is bowling extremely well,” Hussey said.
“He was probably their number one bowler.
“There’s always surprises around the corner with Warney and he certainly will be missed around the game.”
Hussey said he would happily play for a rival city in the revamped competition if the Perth Scorchers overlooked him in the player auction.
“It will be weird that’s for sure, but I think it’s a really exciting concept,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have any qualms if WA didn’t want me to play for them, if they wanted to go for other guys, then I’d be more than happy to play for someone else.”
Meanwhile, CA has chosen Victoria wicketkeeper/batsman Matthew Wade to replace the injured Chris Lynn in the Australia A one-day squad for next month’s tour of Zimbabwe.
Queensland’s Lynn will have finger surgery later this week and will be out of action for two to three months.
Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch described Wade as a dynamic batsman who had scored 489 runs in the domestic one-day competition last summer.
“We are sure he will impress at international level,” Hilditch said.
Tasmanian Test quick Ben Hilfenhaus will only play in the longer-version matches of the tour.
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