Former Australian batting star Michael Hussey made a light-hearted remark that if he had begun his international career earlier, he might have scored around 5,000 more runs than the Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Known for his calm presence and sharp batting mind, Hussey’s comment left fans both amused and curious.
Despite being one of the most consistent players of his time, Hussey’s international debut came rather late, something he believes cost him even bigger numbers in world cricket.
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What did Michael Hussey say about comparing himself with Sachin Tendulkar?
Speaking on The Grade Cricketer YouTube channel, Hussey joked that if he had started earlier, he could have gone past Sachin Tendulkar’s mountain of runs. “I’ve thought about it a lot,” he said.
"I'd probably be about 5,000 runs past Sachin Tendulkar, the leading run-scorer in the game. Most centuries, most wins, most Ashes wins, and the most World Cup wins, probably all those things. And then, unfortunately, I wake up in the morning and it's just a dream," he added.
While said in good humour, the former Aussie batter admitted he would have loved a chance to represent his country sooner.
"I would have loved an opportunity earlier, but the good thing for me was that when I got picked, I had a great understanding of my game," added Hussey.
Hussey’s journey was unique as he had to wait until 28 to make his international debut, even though he had already dominated domestic cricket for years.
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Did Mike Hussey’s late debut impact his career numbers?
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Australia had one of the strongest batting lineups in history, making it incredibly hard for newcomers to break in. Despite being a top performer in first-class cricket, Hussey had to bide his time.
By the time he finally got his chance, he made every inning count. Across formats, Hussey piled up over 12,000 runs at an average close to 50, including 22 centuries in 302 matches. His Test average alone was an impressive 51.52.
Tendulkar remains the undisputed leader in international runs with 15,921 in Tests and 18,426 in ODIs, numbers few can even dream of reaching. In comparison, Hussey finished with 6,235 Test runs and 5,442 ODI runs.
The Indian icon’s longevity and dominance across eras set him apart, something Hussey himself openly admired.