Emotional Hussey explains reasons for retirement

Reuters: Veteran Australian batsman, Mike Hussey, shed tears at a media conference in Melbourne on Sunday 30 December as he explained his reasons for retiring from international cricket.

Hussey shocked his team mates when he told them on Saturday of his retirement plans.

The 37-year-old was overcome with emotion when he talked about his wife, Amy, and his four children.

“I’d like to thank my wife and our children, and Amy’s family. Been amazing support, particularly Amy, while I’ve been away,” Hussey said.

Hussey said he found it difficult to leave his wife and children at home while going on tour.

“I was, sort of, more dreading that time away from home, rather than really looking forward to the challenges. And so, for me that really confirmed in my own mind that it is the right time to sort of say goodbye,” Hussey said.

Hussey is considered to be at the peak of his game, and will retire from international cricket at the end of the Australian summer.

He is due to play his final test against Sri Lanka next week.

The rugged batsman, known affectionately Down Under as ‘Mr Cricket’ for his all-consuming passion for the game, has scored three centuries in his past five tests.

Shut out from the peerless Australia team that dominated world cricket for over a decade, Hussey had to wait until he was 30 for his test debut, against West Indies in 2005, by which time he had amassed a mountain of first-class runs.

Although scoring one and 29 in his first test in Brisbane, Hussey scored consecutive centuries in his next two matches and went on to score another 17 in his late-blooming career.

An aggressive left-hander who charges between the wickets and always looks to score the middle order batsman will play his 79 test against Sri Lanka in Sydney and brings 6,183 runs at an outstanding average of 51.52 into the match.