Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming who was appointed as England’s Test head coach last week has already made an informal approach to one of his closest coaching allies Australian batter Mike Hussey. According to a report by SEN, Fleming contacted Mike Hussey himself to ask whether he would be interested in becoming England’s batting coach. There is no formal offer on the table from the ECB yet, but there is little doubt that the 51-year-old is Fleming’s first choice for the role.

The pair go back a long way. They first played together at Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural IPL season of 2008. Later, Fleming became head coach and Hussey the CSK's star player, before the Australian joined the coaching staff as batting coach in 2018. Their association has stretched across more than 15 years of yellow jerseys, title wins and quiet dressing-room influence.

Mike Hussey emerges as Stephen Fleming’s top choice for England batting coach

Hussey is currently head coach of Welsh Fire in The Hundred and has not yet decided on his availability. The timing is interesting with his marquee player at Welsh Fire this season is Joe Root, who has just been restored as England’s Test captain under Fleming.

If Hussey does cross the Ashes divide and join the England setup, it would be a fascinating full-circle moment. The left-hander last played for Australia in 2013. He has already worked with England before, serving as a consultant during their successful 2022 T20 World Cup campaign on Australian soil.

Fleming himself will not take full charge until the three-Test tour of South Africa in December. Marcus Trescothick will handle the interim role for the upcoming home series against Pakistan, which begins at Headingley on 19 August.

Reports also suggest Fleming has spoken to another CSK colleague, bowling coach Eric Simons, about a possible role. Whether either man ends up in the England dressing room remains to be seen, but the early moves show the new coach is keen to surround himself with people he trusts.