Veteran Australian opener Hayden retires

Australian opener Matthew Hayden announced his retirement from all representative cricket on Tuesday after a 17-year first-class career and 103 test matches.

Hayden was not in the best of form in the recent past managing only 149 runs from five Tests at an average 16.55 in the Australian summer. He was subsequently dropped from the Twenty20 International and one day squads to take on the Proteas at home.

Hayden, who is the most successful opener for Australia, is only behind Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh on the hundred’s list.

In 103 Tests, Matthew Hayden has scored 8,625 runs at an average of 50.73 with a tally of 30 tons and 29 half-centuries. His ODI record is equally enviable – 6,133 runs from 161 games at an average of 43.8 with 10 centuries and 36 half centuries.

In first-class cricket, Hayden scored 24,603 runs from 295 games with included 79 centuries and 100 half centuries.
As a youngster, Hayden showed early promise when he scored 149 in his first-class debut. Although he made his Test debut a few years later in 1994, it was not until 2000/01 that ‘Haydos’ displayed his true class. He scored 549 runs in a Test series against India, which was an Australian record for a three-Test series.

Only a few years later, this Australian southpaw stamped his authority on the game with top three rankings in both Tests and ODIs.

Records galore

He helped Australia retain the World Cup in 2003 and later that year briefly snatched the world record for the highest score in Test cricket from Brian Lara, having made 380 against Zimbabwe at Perth.

This Queenslander was also the highest run-getter for Australia at the 2007 World Cup, helping his team lift the coveted trophy for the third successive time. He scored 659 runs at 73.22 and he later revealed that he played through the tournament with a fractured toe and a broken bone in his other foot.

Hayden formed a destructive partnership with former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and the two were responsible for shattering many bowling attacks on their day.

Hayden has been rewarded for his wholehearted contributions to the game by a host of awards which included the Allan Border Medal (2002); Test Player of the Year (2002); Wisden Cricketer of the Year (2003); ICC ODI Player of the Year (2007) and One Day International Player of the year (2008).

The power-hitter was keen to carry on till the Ashes series in July this year. However disappointing form in the recent past made him announce his retirement from the game.

He will remain one of the greatest cricketers ever produced by Australia and his services and contributions to the game will not be forgotten easily.

Hayden delivered his retirement speech in the Champions Room at Gabba with Australian skipper Ricky Ponting by his side. He will be felicitated for his achievements at the Gabba during the innings-break of the second T20 match between Australia and South Africa today.