Hussey given the ultimate honour

Justin Langer has made the all-important decision on who will take his place as leader of the team song, Beneath the Southern Cross. As predicted, the task will now fall on Michael Hussey, reveals Glenn McGrath in his column in The Sunday Telegraph.

It was the last time Justin led it and he passed on the honour to Mike Hussey, the perfect man for the job. Justin is passionate and he spoke about the history of the song and how the likes of David Boon and Ian Healy had led it before him. It's an important tradition and helps make Australian cricket what it is. Gilly will still do the song after the one-dayers. It would be nice to hear Huss lead the celebrations next summer, but I am more than happy with my decision to call it quits.

But there’s more than just team status up for grabs with Australia’s mass player exodus. In the Sunday Herald Sun, Peter Badel looks at the financial windfalls that will be reaped by Australia’s rising stars.

Stuart Clark is poised to become cricket's next million-dollar man in a major Cricket Australia contractual shake-up. Up to seven CA contracts are up for grabs this year with the retirements of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn. Former internationals Jason Gillespie, Simon Katich and Michael Kasprowicz are also in danger of slipping from CA's 25-man contract list after being axed from the Test and one-day sides in the past year. Those seven contracts carry an estimated earnings total of $2.3 million.