Cricket Australia: Adios, Haydos!

The inevitable has finally happened. I will remember that moment for a long time to come or even perhaps for as long as I remember cricket. I was sitting in my class listening to the professor talk about risk management and here I was, browsing away on cricinfo.com.

It could not have come at a more ironic moment, the discussion was focused on managing risk and how to mitigate or avoid risk in an organization and it seemed like that is exactly what Matty Hayden was doing by calling it a day. He was avoiding the risk of being obliterated by the Australian selectors and having to fight for his spot.

After making his Test debut almost 15 years ago and tormenting the bowlers around the world with his belligerent batting, “Matt the Bat” hung his gloves on January 13.

Anyone who watched him walk off the ground at the SCG last week after being dismissed in the second innings, probably had inkling that his tenure was about come to an end. The crowd gave him a standing ovation; and his wife applauded him from the stands as if he was gladiator walking back from a tough bout.

The reality of what followed has not sunk in yet, and it probably won’t until a new opening pair walk out at the Wanderers next month. Averaging slightly more than 50 runs from his 103 Test matches, the last year of his Test career was anything but like his fluent self in the middle.

Over the past year, it was painful to see how he could not get the timber on the leather or how a few poor decisions ended his streak in the middle, but with every outing, the eventuality became more and more apparent. While Zaheer Khan tested Hayden’s abilities to the hilt during the Border-Gavaskar trophy, Ntini kept claiming him almost religiously during the home South Africa series.

For a batsman who once held the record for the most runs in a Test innings (380 against Zimbabwe in 2003), it is unfortunate that the last summer of his Test career will be remembered for his on-field challenges to breakthrough. A summer during which he averaged only 16.55 runs from five Tests, while fighting the growing criticism and arguments to be replaced by younger players.

Finally, the announcement came after he was dropped from the Australian T-20 and the one-day sides for the South Africa series.

For a batsman who was the highest run scorer a year ago in the world cup (659 runs) at an average of 73.22 and strike rate of over 100, why or how Hayden got sidelined from the shorter versions of the game will always remain a mystery to his fans worldwide.

Perhaps this is what Haydos needed in the near future—an opportunity in the shorter form of the game to ferociously wield his willow and build the much required confidence ahead of the away South Africa series and the Ashes.

Several bowlers will be heaving a sigh of relief at the thought of not having to face Hayden’s ruthless onslaught at any stage during an innings. The bowlers aren’t going to miss him or perhaps they will because as a formidable opponent, Matty compelled the bowlers to rethink their strategies.

I had a rare opportunity to meet Hayden in person as he was sitting on the sidelines nursing his Achilles heel during the first Test against West Indies at Sabina Park in May 2008. For an individual who had built a reputation of being combative on the field, he was anything but off the field. A gentle giant who was genuinely interested in having a conversation rather just signing off on an autograph, his demeanor was more calming than a warm spring breeze.

Cricket Australia and fans across the world are going to miss his nonchalant yet assertive style as he walked on to the field swinging his bat, chewing the gum and taking a hard look at the pitch with a signature stare before waging a war on the leather.

Hayden was one of the last two standing men (Ponting being the other) from the legendary Australian side that dominated world of cricket for nearly a decade; and he will be remembered for his cantankerous stroke-play and sheer dominance on the field and a cricketing great forever who redefined the art of batting.