Usually Australians are known for having dominant players in their team but Matthew Hayden is far above than being just dominant. The first time I actually saw him play was in the test series against South Africa last year in december and the way he dominates quality bowlers is like I have never seen. He is complete falt out aggressive and very consistent. So far he has scored 11 centuries in 34 matches but the bad part about his career is that his career started so late.
He is by far the best batsman in the world currently, even Tendulkar, Lara or any other batsman can’t do what he is doing.
Sadly he is already in his 30s, had he started at the age of 23 or 24 like a typical batsman than his record would have been just unbelievable.
So far he has scored 11 centuries in his 34 test matches, and concerning that he went without a century in his first 7 or 8 matches.
And he has scored 7 centuries in his last 10 test matches and his average is around 53.
I expect him of being the leading force in the upcoming world cup.
Re: Matthew Hayden
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
Usually Australians are known for having dominant players in their team but Matthew Hayden is far above than being just dominant. The first time I actually saw him play was in the test series against South Africa last year in december and the way he dominates quality bowlers is like I have never seen. He is complete falt out aggressive and very consistent. So far he has scored 11 centuries in 34 matches but the bad part about his career is that his career started so late.
He is by far the best batsman in the world currently, even Tendulkar, Lara or any other batsman can't do what he is doing.
Sadly he is already in his 30s, had he started at the age of 23 or 24 like a typical batsman than his record would have been just unbelievable.
So far he has scored 11 centuries in his 34 test matches, and concerning that he went without a century in his first 7 or 8 matches.
And he has scored 7 centuries in his last 10 test matches and his average is around 53.
I expect him of being the leading force in the upcoming world cup.
[/QUOTE]
Not to mention the fact tht he is one of the physically strongest cricketers around whose got a proper technique!
These Australians are known for their fitness.....Hayden's only 31, he could still play for another 7 - 8 years.
well his strongest point is his built, he is so wide and tall that he can easily cover the line of the ball! He is not string square of the wicket on the off side but he leaves those ball easilt and sometimes pulls them on on-side!
His favirote shot is the infamous hook to overhead which he is so good at.
Yep, he’s the ONE!
Of all of the success stories in Australia’s all-conquering line-up, Matthew Hayden’s has to be one of the more remarkable.
As the hosts set up an emphatic 384-run win over England, the burly left-hander became just the seventh player ever to score a century in each innings of an Ashes Test.
Only 12 Australians before him have reached three figures twice in any Test - even the great Don Bradman only managed it on one occasion.
Since returning to Test cricket three years ago, **Hayden has smashed 2,639 runs from 27 Tests at an average of 62.83. **
**South Africa, Pakistan and now England have been put to the sword this calendar year to the tune of 981 runs at 75.46. **
It was a talent that he had only hinted at during his first incarnation as a Test batsman.
After failing as on his Test debut he had to wait three years before playing six further Tests, yielding a century against the West Indies in Adelaide but precious little else.
Of the young pretenders to Mark Taylor’s opening berth there was little to chose between Hayden, Greg Blewett and Matthew Elliott.
When Blewett blew his chance, nine matches into Australia’s record-breaking Test streak, Hayden’s turn came around again against New Zealand in Hamilton.
There was no miracle about-turn - it took until Australia’s tour of India before he managed a second trip into Test figures.
Since then he has been unstoppable.
**Confidence **
The arrival of Justin Langer as his opening partner has formed an impregnable combination, with four double-century stands in their first 10 innings together.
Hayden’s seven centuries from his last 10 Tests is a feat matched among Australians only by Bradman, whose best run was nine tons in 12 matches.
Hayden puts his rebirth as a Test batsman down to a different approach.
“If you haven’t got a mental game plan in place, you’ve got nothing no matter how skilled or how well prepared you are,” :k: he said amidst the celebrations in Brisbane.
**“The last 12 months of my career I’ve taken on a new level of mental preparation.” **
Confidence, though, clearly plays a part in the new Hayden.
The Queenslander is broad-shouldered enough to power himself out of difficulties, the maxim “if you flash, flash hard” taking on a brutal new aspect. "
During 2001, when his 1391 Test runs set a new Australian record, the bulk of his success came against spin.
He was unimpressive during the Ashes tour to England, where he appeared to struggle against the moving ball.
But 591 runs came in six innings in India, and he took a heavy toll from the spinners of New Zealand and South Africa at home.
And as his confidence grew, so did his willingness to take on anything an opposing attack had to offer.
“The way he scores so quickly for an opener is pretty unusual and he’s not afraid to go after any bowler,” said skipper Steve Waugh.
**“The key to playing at this level is to not waste good form and he’s not doing that at the moment.” **
That good form, though, has lasted for almost two years.
At some point it will stop being considered a purple patch and become a batsman of the highest order.
Presently, one of the best players in Interantional Cricket. :k:
Amazing to see that all those runs have come in against 3 quality bowling attacks of Pakistan, South Africa and now England.
While you have other over rated batsman who feed off runs against teams like Westindies, Hayden is going against top bowling sides.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by UMAIR316: *
Amazing to see that all those runs have come in against 3 quality bowling attacks of Pakistan, South Africa and now England.
[/quote]
Brits have quality attacking bowlers? I doubt that. Man
PT, I think their bowling has improved alot from before, their fast bowlers are very good.
Hoggard, Gough, Caddick, Jones, I like this new look English lineup.
Haydos, as he's known, is a class apart at the moment. This is why Aus are so strong, SW and co are on the brink of leaving the game-and the younger blokes step up and take over the mantle. With him, JL, Ponting and Gilly, they'll have a dominant batting line-up for years to come.
The Game Responds:
*I watched Hayden a few years ago at his debut, and there is one thing I could never understand; why would they let such a dynamic player not play one dayers for so many years? The Australian selection at times confuses the hell out of me. They picked untalented assclowns like Lehmann and Shane Lee for one dayers, but not Hayden. Very strange. **Think About It**. People, That Is All.*
Following news article compares Hayden with Sir Bradman.
Matthew Hayden is the best Australian batsman since the legendary Don Bradman, according to the latest PwC Ratings.
Hayden became just the 12th Australian to hit a century in both innings of a Test, and the seventh to do so in an Ashes match, as the hosts wrapped up a 384-run win over England.
So far in this calendar year, Hayden has amassed 981 runs at 75.46. :mudhosh:
**Since 1970, only West Indies great Viv Richards has gone higher than Hayden’s current level of 937 points. **
And his seven centuries in the last 10 Tests is a feat unmatched by any other Australian apart from Bradman in the 1930s.
But Bill Brown, Australia’s oldest living Test cricketer, said there was still no comparison between Hayden and his former team-mate
“I don’t compare anyone with Bradman, and I think Matthew Hayden would be the last one who would want to be compared with him,” the 90-year-old Brown said.
**“But he’s certainly doing a wonderful job for Australia. He’s the complete opener now.”
“His stroke-making has improved and his general technique as a batsman has improved.”**
Hayden had a shaky start in Test cricket but, since making a return to the side three years ago, he has smashed 2,639 runs at an average of 62.83.
**Bradman, who boasted 29 centuries from 52 Tests at an unrivalled average of 99.94, died last year at the age of 92. **
“I haven’t seen anything to approach Bradman as yet,” Brown added. **“The way he got [his runs] and his general batting put him in a class of his own.” **
The new ratings offered some comfort to England, Marcus Trescothick climbing to joint tenth-best batsman, and Mark Butcher up five places to 22nd.
Andy Caddick held on to ninth place in the bowling ranks.
Meanwhile in Johannesburg, Jacques Kallis extended his lead at the top of the index of all-rounders during South Africa’s innings win over Sri Lanka.
And opener Graeme Smith has moved up a massive 18 places to 47th in the batting list after his quickfire 73.
I don't see any thing special in Hayden (shyad mujhay rooza laag raha hai)....he is just a batsman in form...now a days he is on top.. tomorrow there will be some one else... I remember when Saeed Anwer scored 194....he was the most exciting...the best lefthander (even better than David Gower and Lara)...but now he is not even in the team...
Let's just not make him god..he is not that special!!
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Jerablade: *
I don't see any thing special in Hayden (shyad mujhay rooza laag raha hai)....he is just a batsman in form...now a days he is on top.. tomorrow there will be some one else... I remember when Saeed Anwer scored 194....he was the most exciting...the best lefthander (even better than David Gower and Lara)...but now he is not even in the team...
Let's just not make him god..he is not that special!!
[/QUOTE]
well he has never been out of form and that makes him special.
His batting style might be different than sachin but as far as consistancy is concerned he is as good as Sachin .
Indeed a very good batsman. A very good player of fast as well as spin bolwing.
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by the game: *
*The Game Responds**:
*I watched Hayden a few years ago at his debut, and there is one thing I could never understand; why would they let such a dynamic player not play one dayers for so many years? The Australian selection at times confuses the hell out of me. They picked untalented assclowns like Lehmann and Shane Lee for one dayers, but not Hayden. Very strange. **Think About It**. People, That Is All.*
[/QUOTE]
Thats very true I remember when he was first pickedup by the Australian team he failed to perfrom and was droped but its amazing how he has furnished himself and became a backbone of Aussie batting.
Hayden was stuck in that time period playing for Northam for many years and Australia A.
I would love to see a Australia A vs. Australia in a 5 day match.
Quite amusing that Hayden, who I predict will make history, career started so late.
I agree, the Australian selectors confuse me so much.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Jerablade: *
I don't see any thing special in Hayden (shyad mujhay rooza laag raha hai)....he is just a batsman in form...now a days he is on top.. tomorrow there will be some one else... I remember when Saeed Anwer scored 194....he was the most exciting...the best lefthander (even better than David Gower and Lara)...but now he is not even in the team...
Let's just not make him god..he is not that special!!
[/QUOTE]
Players you have mentioned are good batsmen as well.
But if you look at the striking rate of Mathew match wise, he's sure to be on top.
On BBC website there is this very topic-"Is Aus A team the 2nd best side in the world?"
They have amazing strength in depth. I mean players like him are fringe players in most cases, and guys like Blewett hardly play!
Hayden is a fine player, but how much of it is form and how much of it is him finally maturing has yet to be seen-if he's still doing this 18months from now-we can have this topic again, under the heading:
Where will he rank amongst the alltime greats?
At this time, its one of Crickets gretest runs, but too early to immortalize him.
Lets immortalize Steve waugh though, he's an absolute alltime great!