India vs Australia: Michael Hussey slams 'packed' international cricket calendar

Michael Hussey, the Australian batting great, is of the opinion that hosting a T20I series between India and Australia immediately after the World Cup has devalued the five-match contest and also lambasted the cricketing calendar. The five-match T20I series between India and Australia began just four days after the same two teams took part in the 2023 World Cup final on 19 November. “I certainly feel like this T20 series has been devalued. It doesn’t cheapen the World Cup but it certainly cheapens this series,” Hussey said on Sen Radio on Wednesday. Hussey was also unhappy with the scheduling of international cricket and said it was not “possible” for players to play all of the tournaments. “It’s just amazing how much (cricket boards) pack on a calendar to play so much cricket. It is physically and mentally impossible to play all of the tournaments that are going on,” he said. Australia are currently trailing 1-2 in the series with two matches to go. The Aussies have sent back home some of the top players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, David Warner and Steve Smith to prepare for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan. Hussey said that the current Australia T20 side which is competing in India is not the best. “There would be a number of guys who were at the World Cup (for both nations) would probably be in their T20 teams. They got home to either prepare for a Test series or simply to have a break. “This is certainly not the best Australian T20 team going up against the best India T20 team,” he asserted. Hussey, who was equally good across formats, threw his weight behind ODIs and said that the World Cup was a great advertisement for the format. “I might be in the minority here but I think (ODI cricket) is a great game. It caters for so many different types of players (and) over the course of the 100 overs, the better team has more of a chance to come out on top. “The last World Cup was a great advertisement for the game. There was some unbelievable cricket played. There were some stories to come out (of the World Cup) that will live for 100 years,” he said.