Nasser Hussain’s brother used to dream of playing for England in an Ashes series… but not quite like this.
Mel Hussain, 60, was considered a big prospect in his youth and once hit a young Shane Warne for multiple sixes.
However unlike his brother Nasser, who went on to score 5,774 runs and captain England between 1999-2003, he decided to leave the game for a career in finance.
But now, Mel and 17 other over 60’s have head down under as England look to retain the urn they won on home soil in 2023.
Mel did admit that there is a certain pressure that comes when representing the Hussain name.
He said: “The Hussain name represents everything that Nass did, so I don’t want to let the family down.
“I watched almost every single ball he’s ever faced, I remember watching him against Australia and Brett Lee was so quick you couldn’t even see the ball.
“Nasser was just sticking him out on the ground and got a hundred, days like that are where you realise just how skilful Nass was.”
Mel travelled over 20,000 miles this summer playing for Essex seniors and local club side, Dunmow.
He admitted that sledging aimed at his brother is more than common during matches.
He said: “It’s all the time, it’s just ridiculous.
“The one which continuously pops up is ‘Nasser’s running between the wickets’ because he used to run a few people out.
“It’s okay, but when you’ve heard it a million times it just becomes boring.”
In his youth, Mel signed a contract with Hampshire, before leaving the professional game for a career in finance.
“In the offseason I didn’t go overseas and I ended up in the city working as a coffee boy on the trading floor – it opened my eyes that there’s this whole other world.
“The best contract I had at the time with Hampshire was eight thousand pounds for six months of cricket – these finance guys were earning that in a week.”
Luckily, Hussain was able to continue playing for the England amateur side alongside his career in the city.
“I got to play against Australia and Shane Warne. I got to play against Pakistan. I got to play against New Zealand. I got to play against Sri Lanka.
“We knew about Shane Warne because he had just got a load of wickets against the West Indies, but nobody really had faced him in England. So they invited a whole load of leg spinners to come and bowl to the England boys.
“It turned out I was the one that was going to attack Shane Warne when we played him in this friendly ODI, and I put him out the ground four times.”
Mel’s place in the Silver Ashes squad is the pinnacle of the growing over 60’s game, which saw more than 3,000 players competing across the country this summer.
Mel said: “People only see a whole bunch of, not geriatrics, but old boys running around, but they don’t see the skill sets.
“Spinners still come on and bowl it, bang on a line and length.
“The seamer comes on and just hits a beautiful line and swings it both ways.”
The Silver Ashes first took place in Sheffield in 2009, and Mel insisted the historic rivalry remains alive in the over 60’s instalment, albeit in a slightly more friendly manner.
He said: “Whenever you play Australia, it’s always a big one isn’t it?
“It’s a lot more friendly, but on the pitch, definitely the Aussies against England rivalry is probably the fiercest.
“There’s sensible sledging but after the game, we all have a beer and a burger and move on to the next match.
Despite brother Nasser being four years off 60, Mel chuffed when asked if he would ever invite his brother to join him in the over-60’s England side.
“No! Because I know what the answer would be!”
The Silver Ashes kicks off on the 18th of November – the two long time rivals have clashed 35 times in Over-60s cricket, with England winning 23 matches, Australia 10, plus one draw and one tie.
Featured image: Stuart Felstead
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