Hussey to commentate on Australia matches

Deemed surplus to Australia's limited overs plans this summer by the national selectors, Michael Hussey will instead work at a quartet of matches as a television commentator.

Having revealed his decision to retire from the international game on Channel Nine following the Boxing Day Test, Hussey has been signed by the network to commentate on four matches, the two Twenty20s against Sri Lanka and the final two ODIs of the series against the West Indies.

Hussey's first appearance at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on Australia Day will be juggled with his on-field duties as captain of Western Australia, who will be engaged in a Sheffield Shield fixture against New South Wales in Blacktown from Thursday.

Following his retirement announcement Hussey had said he would like to "try a few things" now that he was no longer tied to the relentless schedule of an international cricketer, and though he is set to continue to play for the Warriors, the Perth Scorchers and Chennai in the IPL, he will now have more time for pursuits such as television.

While initially Hussey had hoped to farewell Australian cricket via the ODIs and T20s against Sri Lanka and the West Indies, he was informed during the Sydney Test that the national selector John Inverarity and his panel had decided not to choose him for the matches, preferring to try players who would be available for the longer term.

"I'm disappointed not to be playing in the one-dayers because that was my plan," Hussey said after his axing. "I love one-day cricket. That's where I got my opportunity to play for Australia, so I definitely wanted to play.

"But I understand what the selectors are trying to do. They're trying to build for the 2015 World Cup and I'll get over it I guess."

The decision to remove Hussey from the squad while also resting Michael Clarke, David Warner and Matthew Wade was considered so sensitive by Cricket Australia that the team performance manager Pat Howard briefed Nine's director of sport Steve Crawley and members of the commentary team about the squad for the Sri Lanka series the day before it was announced.