Matthew Hayden – the name from 2000-2009, from which of opposition bowler was afraid. One of the very few talented cricket players, who could play outstanding cricket in the same fashion over three formats. It is very difficult for a player to keep test crickets or a one-day cricket consistent. But it was a simple job for a player such as Matthew Hayden. While he had a hard start to his career, he was the nightmare of any opposing team once he got out.
Hayden was the member of the Australian 2000-2009 Golden Generation squad – the squad that justified such terms as ‘Invincible’ or ‘Unbeatable’. Ricky Ponting’s side was the most challenging Australian side to play against in any circumstances. Hayden has played in the two 2003 and 2007 World Cup-winning campaigns. The test entries of Matthew Hayden were 184 and 8625 times were scored by him in the cricket. The swashbuckling opener from Australia was perfectly justified by 30 centuries, 29 half-centuries, two double centuries, and one triple one century.
Let us take a look at the greatest Test innings of Matthew Hayden
1) Matthew Hayden scored 197 in 2002 in Brisbane
Cricket between Australia and England is one of the biggest rivalries in the world. The Golden Age and another series in Australian cricket history. The tourist won the toss and decided first and that is what the hosts wanted and welcomed the tourist from their top batting machine with a traditional batting theme.
Matthew Hayden also won a draw in the first series test match. Hayden stood high and batted the tourist front line pacers for seven long hours, though in 197 runs he dropped below a double century later. In their first innings, Australia scored 492.
At 296/5, with a second century from 103 runs, Australia proclaimed the second entry. This means that tourists would lose or draw two choices – winning against that side of Australia was virtually impossible on their own territory. Even the draw was unclear, but the battle in England was still loud until the last, but it was the Australian fatal combination, which led the tourist on 79 runs in the second round and won 384 runs, of Glenn McGrath (4) and Shane Warne (3) who battled the tourist. During the two-century match, Matthew Hayden was awarded one match.
2) Matthew Hayden scored 122 in 2002 in Johannesburg
Last Test Match of Allan Donald and Ashwell Prince. After winning the toss, three test match series and Australia agreed to bat first in the first test match. Some hard struggle was expected, but the hosts looked out of shape. In 652/7 with many fine performances from Matthew Hayden (122), Damien Martyn (133), and an unbeaten double century from Adam Gilchrist 204 *, the tourists announced their first entry points.
With these runs, the same stuff was expected from the hosts but never managed in both their innings to cross the 200 run barrier and lost the match by 360 runs and an inlet. While Gilchrist was remembered by a player, Matthew Hayden’s century set the foundation for the victory.
3) Matthew Hayden Scored 380 in 2003 in Perth
Zimbabwe touring to Australia, first two games of the test match. After winning the toss, Zimbabwe decided to bowl on Perth’s fastest track. Tourists’ decision was confirmed by the hosts to be their nightmare. As the Australian entered the highest score in the past 126 years, he declared his first innings at 735/6, when Matthew Hayden was the first player to score 380 in his career. The highest score in their history was any Australian batman.
Previously Brain Lara (375) had the highest score in one innings. Brain Lara created another record of 400 * runs in a single innings in the history of any player within six months. This record was broken after this innings. During the match, Australia won inning and 175 runs. He got the Man of the Match and the Man of the Series in two test matches.