Nasser Hussein Biography

Nasser Hussein was born in Madras on the 28 March 1968 to an Indian father and English mother. While living in India, the young Nasser was given his first taste of cricket. His father, an avid cricketer and member of the Madras cricket club, and his brothers, were keen to take Nasser out for a knock around at every opportunity.

Indeed, cricket followed the Husseins as they moved to England: Nasser’s father, on arrival, took control of a local cricket school. Here, his son spent long hours, honing his savage and much feared leg spin bowling. However, when he grew too tall to control such a powerful weapon as his bowling, he adjusted his game and decided to focus on batting instead. This was a pivotal move for a man who would be remembered for his batting performances.

Nasser Hussein’s achievements were not simply limited to the cricket pitch. He attended the prestigious and highly selective Forest School, where he was considered worthy of a mathematics scholarship, and Hussein went on to acquire a degree in natural sciences from Durham University. This is evidence, if ever it was needed, that he has a mind capable of meeting the mental rigors of cricket captaincy.

But cricket always remained his first priority. Hussein managed to find time to represent Essex Schools teams throughout his childhood and, from there, progressed to the full county side. Greater success followed and, in 1989, he made his test debut against the West Indies.

However, Nasser Hussein was always accompanied by a fiery temper. Since childhood he took cricket very seriously and would react with vehement disgust when he, or anyone around him, failed. His temper was evident even in his professional career: locker room tantrums and the wanton hurling of pads and gloves are recounted by several teammates. Moreover, this lack of coolness may have held Hussein back as he bounced in and out of the national team until 1996. This temperament also gave him a drive and energy admired by many and it was perfect for motivating players. This aspect of his personality would later, after it was slightly curbed, serve him well.

Once Hussein confirmed his place in the England team he quickly grew in stature. Indeed, he was so eminent that, in 1999, Nasser Hussein was named captain of the national team, following Alec Stewart’s resignation. He threw himself into his work and applied all his daring and frenetic energy into the job. Often willing to experiment, Hussein became a virtuoso captain. However, while his captaincy was good his personal performance initially suffered, and he racked up several poor batting performances. Fortunately, he learned to balance his responsibility as a captain and a player. He soon smoothed out these kinks in his game and began to become one of England’s most reliable batsmen.

England, though susceptible to occasional losing streaks, did improve during Hussein’s reign and this is testament to the man’s leadership skills (and to those of Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, with whom Hussein worked closely).

Nasser Hussein relinquished his captaincy in 2003. He had the distinct honour of leaving English cricket better off than when he joined it, and was appropriately rewarded with an OBE. In 2004 he retired from cricket, just days after earning a test match century against New Zealand. Now Nasser Hussein is settling into the exciting world of cricket commentary with Sky, looking back approvingly on an outstanding career. He is married and has two children with his wife, Karen.