SYDNEY: Former Test batsman Mike Hussey will captain the Prime Minister’s XI against England in Canberra early next year, Cricket Australia said on Thursday.

Hussey, 39, who retired in 2013, played 79 Tests for Australia and 185 One-day Internationals.

The match will take place on Jan 14 at Manuka Oval, four days before England’s opening clash of the tri-one-day series against Australia and India.

“It’s a tremendous honour to be selected to captain the Prime Minister’s XI,” Hussey said. “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 captained the team.

The rest of the XI will be chosen by Cricket Australia’s selection panel with input from Prime Minister Tony Abbott in the coming weeks.

Published in Dawn, November 21th, 2014