Arthur Crabtree wrote:Thanks for the info. The version of the boat trip I'm familiar with is that Hussey wanted to just stay in the dressing room with the players, but Clarke didn't think that was auspicious enough so arranged a party on son of Packer's yacht as a surprise. The retiring (in both senses) Hussey didn't want that and Clarke felt a bit put out that his efforts weren't appreciated. As I remember it.
No thats not the case, but you have reminded me that the story above is a little wrong.
Hussey announced his retirement as a shock only a week or two(or was it days) before the Sydney Test v Lanka, so the boat trip had not been arranged as a retirement as I said earlier, but for the team to party after the end of the Aussie summer in fact. He said afterwards that after Clarke cut him from the ODI and T20 teams he felt that announcing his intentions before that Aussie Summer may have made the selectors drop him for the tests, so he kept it secret till very late.
Hussey, who had invited the whole of his extended family to be there to witness his last day in International cricket found out about the boat party during the test, but communicated the fact that as his family had come to see him, and as they were not allowed to attend due to the safety issue with children, he would not be able to go, but wanted to share some time in the dressing room after.
It was only when he didnt turn up that Siddle, Lyon and Watson found him with the team management staff in the hotel restaurant(back room staff were also allowed family to attend tests, but players are not generally) and asked why he wasnt coming.
It was at this point, not the next day as I said earlier, that Watson apparently lost his temper and wanted the team to stay with Hussey and his family, which many players agreed with, but in the end the non-alcohol drinking Siddle was the only one who stayed as Clarke insisted they go to party because the boat had been arranged.