For Hussey,Buttler’s response underlined the combination of fierce determination and relational skills that he had admired since the pair played together for the Sydney Thunder some years ago.
“He comes across as that quiet,calm,mild-mannered kind of guy,but you shouldn’t be mistaking the competitiveness in him,” Hussey said. “You see that with the way he bats,but he also has a great desire to win and lead this side well.
“It was pretty good thinking I guess to have that clarity of thinking in a pressure situation,to be able to think about the long game rather than that one incident.”
In more recent times,Hussey’s coaching with Chennai in the IPL has had him cross paths with the likes of Moeen Ali,Sam Curran,Chris Jordan,David Willey and Mark Wood,all helpful when Mott called up to ask if he would join the England coaching staff.
“I was just on holiday down in south WA and Motty called out of the blue and said ‘what do you reckon’,” Hussey said. “There’s been a bit of change with Motty coming in as coach and Eoin Morgan retired from white ball cricket as well.
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“I know listening to Jos Buttler talk,there’s been so much good work done in the past but we’ve got to keep moving forward as well,and he’s all about talking about ‘let’s take the great things that have happened in the past but let’s keep looking forward and playing what’s in front of us’.”
To see Hussey decked out in the England training kit,Three Lions and all,was jarring for some who remember him not only as one of Australia’s most dependable and adaptable batters,but also as the team song master between 2007 and 2012.
Then again,the moniker of “Mr Cricket” always suggested something a little more universal than the ultra partisanship of some teammates. And,heck,if Matthew Hayden can work as an assistant coach for Pakistan...
“I was a little bit nervous to see what the reaction might be last night,and I must admit when I first got the training gear and put the shirt on I thought ’oh it feels a little bit weird,” Hussey said. “But then you just get to work.
“There’s a bigger picture than just Australia versus England and your allegiance to Australia over England. I don’t mind who I’m coaching,whether it’s helping Indians,Australians,Englishmen,Dutch,whoever it is. I just like watching players develop.”
And in the context of a role where he is only with England’s players for about a month,there are limits to what can be achieved in the building of rapport and trust during that time - Hussey knows he’s no magic elixir for the team’s Cup campaign.
“There’s only so much you can do,” he said. “I’ve worked with some of the guys in the IPL so there is some level of relationship there,but it is difficult to come in and make a big impact.
“But these guys know their own games so much that you don’t want to come in and change too many things either. Part of the job of being a coach is not to stuff them up!”
Suggesting Wade was out,while also thinking Buttler did the diplomatic thing by not insisting on an appeal,cannot hurt Hussey’s chances of building some London bridges.