And with England already in possession of the urn following their success on home soil in 2009, that means Australia cannot regain the Ashes.
But they can still claim a share of the series with a win at the SCG, where Hussey hopes a new-look line-up can lay down a marker for the future.
Michael Clarke will captain his country for the first time in a Test after Ricky Ponting was ruled out by a finger injury.