Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, today officially launched the Prime Minister’s XI match in the Bradman Room at Manuka Oval, where it was announced that former Australian cricketer Mike Hussey will captain the team.
The match will be played against England on Wednesday 14 January at Manuka Oval, four days before England’s opening match of the Carlton Mid One-Day International (ODI) Tri Series.
Hussey played 79 Tests for Australia from 2005-2013 and 185 ODIs from 2004-2012. In a stellar international career, Hussey made 6235 Test runs at 51.52 including 19 centuries, and 5442 ODI runs at an astonishing ODI average of 48.15.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be selected to captain the Prime Minister’s XI,” said Hussey. “Having played in the Prime Minister’s XI before, I know how important this fixture is on the Australian cricketing calendar, and it is a great tradition.
“In the past two years Ricky Ponting and Brett Lee have been captains of the team, so it’s humbling to follow in the footsteps of two icons of Australian cricket.”
The rest of the team will also be selected by Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel (NSP) with input from the Prime Minister, and will be announced in the coming weeks.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said he was looking forward to the Prime Minister’s XI fixture, which will again be played under lights.
“This summer of cricket is the biggest in Canberra’s history, and the Prime Minister’s XI match is a key element of that. Last summer, more than 12,000 people poured through the gates for the match, so we urge all ACT and regional cricket fans to secure their tickets now to avoid missing out.
“Congratulations to Mike on his appointment as captain. He has been a fine ambassador for Australian cricket and I’ve no doubt he will lead the Prime Minister’s XI team with distinction,” Sutherland concluded.
Cricket ACT Chairman Ian McNamee said, “Mike’s appointment maintains a strong tradition of Australian cricket legends who have captained the team, so this is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Canberra and region to acknowledge one of the great batsmen and true gentlemen of Australian cricket.”
The Prime Minister also announced that Stand Tall for PTS will be the official charity partner of the match. Stand Tall for PTS aims to raise awareness about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Its founder, Tony Dell, played two Tests for Australia from 1971-74.
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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