India, Sept. 1 -- Michael Hussey has turned down the opportunity to join England's Test setup as batting coach, with the former Australia great instead opting for a flexible consultancy role with Cricket Australia ahead of next year's Ashes. Hussey had held discussions last month with England's newly appointed Test head coach Stephen Fleming over becoming part of his backroom staff. The pair share a long professional relationship from Chennai Super Kings, where they worked together across Hussey's spells as both player and batting coach.

However, as reported by The Guardian, Fleming has been unable to persuade the 51-year-old to take on the full-time England position, with Hussey understood to have preferred an arrangement that allows hi...