'Mr Cricket', Mike Hussey, has announced his retirement from Test cricket. Next week's Sydney Test against Sri Lanka will be the 37-year-old's last.
Australian veteran Mike Hussey announced Saturday he will retire fromu00a0Test cricket after next week's third and final clash against Sri Lankau00a0in Sydney.
The evergreen Hussey, who continues to flourish at 37, just monthsu00a0younger than Ricky Ponting who called it quits earlier this month, saidu00a0he wanted to spend more time with his four young children, who are allu00a0aged under eight.
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"The Sydney Test against Sri Lanka will be my last Test match foru00a0Australia and I'm going to retire from international cricket at the endu00a0of the Australian summer," he told the Nine Network.
Australia's 393rd Test cap, Hussey will play his 79th and final Test in Sydney but added he will play out the remainder of the 2012-13 Australian domestic summer and will be available for Western Australia Warriors and Perth Scorchers. He will review his availability for the Warriors and Scorchers at the end of the 2012-13 season.
Mike Hussey, affectionately known as Mr. Cricket, has played 78 Tests so far, scoring 6183 runs at 51.52, including 19 centuries. Pic/AFP
Hussey will also play the one day series against Sri Lanka and West Indies before quitting international limited overs cricket.
"I was quite excited to tell them (children) that I'm not going to gou00a0away and play for Australia any more."
Hussey has scored 6183 runs, including 19 hundreds, at an average of 51.52 from 78 Tests. He has also represented Australia in 185 one-day internationals and 38 Twenty20 internationals.
Cricket Australia (CA) chairman Wally Edwards said he had followed Hussey's career with admiration at Wanneroo, Western Australia and after 10 years of fine state cricket, as an Australian player.
"Michael has had a fine career - he has been a great player, a great team player and has always been a great person, on and off the field," Edwards said in a press release.
"To debut as a Test cricketer at 30 and to go on and achieve what he has done has been absolutely terrific."
CA chief executive officer James Sutherland said Hussey would be a huge loss on and off the field for Australia, but wished him well for his life after cricket.
"Michael Hussey has been a vital contributor to many Australian team wins over his very successful Test cricket career. Affectionately known as 'Mr. Cricket', he has always been thoroughly committed to meticulous preparation and the highest levels of physical fitness which have in turn delivered consistent performances in all forms of the game.
"An incredibly reliable player and leader within the Australian cricket team, Michael will retire from Test cricket with a record that puts him amongst the very best Australian batsmen of all time.
"Beyond his contributions to team success, he will be remembered for the way he has carried himself on and off the field - and in doing so he has won the respect and admiration of players, officials and fans all around the world.
"In congratulating him on a great Test career, we wish him well and hope to see him stay close to the game after his playing days are over," Sutherland said.
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