Michael Hussey and Ryan Harris join Australia coaching ranks for T20 series

The pair are the latest in an increasingly long line of former Australia players to be brought back into the fold to lend their expertise and experience

Australia have added to their backroom team ahead of their two home T20I series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, appointing Michael Hussey and Ryan Harris to assist Justin Langer.

Hussey, who also works as Chennai Super Kings’ batting coach, will take up a position mentoring the players.

Harris, meanwhile, who already holds a high-performance coaching role at the country’s National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, comes in as a bowling coach. During his playing days, the former fast bowler represented both Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League.

The 40-year-old replaces Troy Cooley, who looked after Australia’s bowling charges during the summer’s Ashes series.

The pair are the latest in an increasingly long line of former Australia players – and teammates of Langer – to be brought back into the fold to lend their expertise and experience. Ricky Ponting was involved during the World Cup, while Steve Waugh held a mentorship role during the Ashes.

“I can’t tell you how influential these guys can be on the group,” Langer said. “It’s about building our leadership, about honing their skills as cricketers, and they can just complement the other guys who are full-time coaches.

“It’s nice to have different voices and different eyes and see guys of that calibre giving us feedback on what they see.”

Hussey added: “I’m very excited actually. I’m really looking forward to getting back in around the Aussie team.

“They are going to be trying to get strategies in place, develop a style of play and what players they want and I love all that stuff — planning for a big event.

“They have floated the possibility of being involved closer to the T20 World Cup as well but it’s all pretty loose at the moment.”

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