Matthew Hayden – The name from whose every opposition bowler have been feared off from the 2000-2009. One of those few gifted players in a cricket who could play the exceptional cricket across the three formats in a quite same fashion. It is quite a difficult prospect for a player to maintain same amount consistency in test cricket or a one-day cricket. But for a player like Matthew Hayden this was a easy task. Although he had a rough start of his career but once he was gets going he was the nightmare for any opposition team.
Hayden was the part of Golden Generation of Australian team 2000-2009 – the team who have justified the words like Invincible or Unbeatable. The most difficult Australian side of Ricky Ponting to ever play against in any conditions. Hayden was also the part of the two world cup winning campaign 2003 and 2007. Matthew Hayden has played 184 test innings in which he has scored 8625 runs in the test cricket. 30 Centuries and 29 half-centuries, two double Centuries and one triple century – these numbers perfectly Justified the swashbuckling opener from Australia.
Let us take a look back at top five greatest test Innings of Matthew Hayden:
1. Matthew Hayden 380 Vs Zimbabwe, Perth, 2003:
Zimbabwe tour of Australia, First test match of two-match series. Zimbabwe after winning the toss decided to bowl first on the fastest track in the world Perth. The hosts had confirmed the decision from tourists will be going to be nightmare for them.
As the Australian went onto post the highest ever score in 126 years history and declared their first innings at 735/6 in which Mathew Hayden was last player to get out at his career best score of 380 runs in a single innings.
This was highest score by any Australian opening batsman in their history. Earlier the test highest score in single innings was hold by Brain Lara (375) which after this innings was broken but within the span of 6 months Brain Lara sets the another record of 400* run mark in a single innings by any player in the history.
While Australia won the match by innings and 175 runs. Mathew Hayden was Adjudged as the man of match and man of series for the leading run-scorer for Australia 501 in two test matches. But that triple century from Swashbuckling opener was the highlight of the series.
2. Matthew Hayden 197, 103 Vs England, 2002, Brisbane:
Ashes series one of the greatest rivalry in the world Cricket between Australia and England. The golden era in Australian cricket history and this was another series.
The tourist won the toss and decided to field first and that's what the hosts were looking for and they have welcomed the tourist in their typical style of batting from their top-order batting run machine.
Another match winning innings from Mathew Hayden in the first test match of series. Hayden stood tall and batted for seven long hours on the crease destroyed the tourist frontline pacers while scored 197 runs just fell short of another double century.
As Australia score 492 in their first innings. While Australia declared the second innings at 296/5 with another century from Mathew Hayden 103 runs.
Which means tourist have to two options either loss or draw – winning against that side of Australia in their own territory it was next to impossible. Even the draw was not sure but still there were noise England team fight till last but what followed next was the Australian deadly bowling combination of Glenn McGrath (4) and Shane Warne (3) who befuddle the tourist on 79 runs in their second innings and clinch the victory by 384 runs. While Mathew Hayden was awarded with man of match of his two centuries in a single match.
3. Matthew Hayden 203 Vs India, 2001, Chennai:
The series was 1-1 and it was the first time in the world cricket when audience have witnessed Australian were defeated by the underrated side of team India. The series which has changed the perception of Indian cricket history.
3rd test match of the series and tourist after winning the toss decided to bat first and Australia score 391 in their first innings in which Mathew Hayden (203) smashed the another double century.
The Australian total could have been higher from 340/3 at one stage but the underdog era of Harbhajan Singh was about to start after the series. The young Harbhajan Singh ripped apart the star line up of predator Aussies in the both the innings and also scored the winning runs which was impossible at one point. But it was his time as the won the match and series too.
But all in all that double century from Mathew Hayden was the another magnificent knock with some typical shots for the audience.
4. Matthew Hayden 122 Vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2002:
Allan Donald last test match and Ashwell Prince Debut test Match. 3 test match series and Australia after winning the toss in the first test match of series decided to bat first. It was expected some tough fight but the hosts were looking out of the form.
As the tourist declared their first innings score at 652/7 with some fine performances from Mathew Hayden (122), Damien Martyn (133) and unbeaten double century from Adam Gilchrist 204*.
With such amount of runs it was expected the same stuff of batting from the hosts but they never managed to cross the barrier of 200 run mark in both of their innings and lost the match by 360 runs and an innings. Though Gilchrist was awarded with man of match but the momentum for the winning the match was set by Mathew Hayden century.
5. Matthew Hayden 153 Vs England, Melbourne, 2006:
Another ashes series and the tourist was already trailing by 3-0 in the series it was the 4th test match of series. After winning the toss England decided to bat first to fight for the pride in the remaining matches.
But as always Australia was in their prime days and in the mood to entertain the tourist before dismantle them onto 159 in their innings.
The tourist frontline pacers started pretty well in the first innings but Mathew Hayden (153) and Andrew Symonds (156) took the game from the England team with one match-winning partnership. As Australia scored 419 runs in their first innings.
Well England team started slowly in their second innings but they couldn't hold on to the pressure for too long when your facing the very best in the world like Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne who destroyed the hopes of drawing the test match with the big score and England managed to score 161 in their second innings and loss the match by 99 runs and an innings. Although they have lost the series too with 5-0 after this match.
