Hussey to lead PM’s XI in pink ball match

Australia

Cricket Australia have asked former Test batsman Mike Hussey to captain the Prime Minister's XI against New Zealand in late October, a game that will be played with a pink ball at the Manuka Oval.

The match in Canberra will be a day-night one-dayer, but the sides will play with a pink ball to prepare them for the historic first Day-Night Test in late November. That will be the third match of the Test series.

CA chief James Sutherland said: "It’s fantastic that we've been able to spread international cricket evenly in the ACT with the PM’s XI on 23 October 2015 followed by a Victoria Bitter One Day International match against India on 20 January 2016.

"Congratulations to Mike again on his appointment as captain. Many fans can look forward to him taking to the park in Canberra in October.

"The Prime Minister’s XI fixture has always been an important annual event on the Australian cricket calendar and we're pleased this year that it will open our international season."

Hussey said of his appointment: "It’s a tremendous honour to be selected again to captain the Prime Minister’s XI.

"Having been selected last year, I was unable to play due to injury but I know how important this fixture is on the Australian cricketing calendar, and it is a great tradition."

Sutherland added of the venue, which will also host an ODI against India in January: "Canberra has certainly proved its cricket hosting credentials following the highly successful ICC Cricket World Cup.

"It is for that reason that this coming season Manuka will stage the PM’s XI and a highly anticipated one-day international between Australia and India as part of a new partnership between Cricket Australia, the ACT Government and Cricket ACT."

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