Cricket

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has opined that India's recent 0-3 Test series loss to New Zealand could serve as a wake-up call for the team. India's hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final have been dealt a significant blow by this defeat, their first home Test series loss in 12 years.Hayden believes that the loss could be a "kick up the ae" that India needs. Despite their poor performance in the series, Hayden believes that India's experience in long-format cricket will give them an advantage in their upcoming five-match Test series against Australia.Hayden also commented on the selection of Nathan McSweeney as an opener for Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. McSweeney has impressed in recent matches, and Hayden believes that he has the potential to be a successful Test opener."Time will tell," Hayden said. "From a former opening batsman's point of view, I'd like to just confirm that he's a good choice."Hayden emphasized that the most important qualities for a Test opener are character and the ability to handle the pressure of international cricket. He believes that McSweeney possesses these qualities and has the potential to be a valuable asset to the Australian team.

Matthew Hayden Predicts Australian Victory in Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but Cautions of Indian ThreatFormer Australian batsman Matthew Hayden has predicted a home victory for Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series against India. However, he emphasized that the visiting Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, will pose a formidable challenge.India has emerged victorious in their last two Test tours of Australia, and they will aim to defend the BGT title in a five-match series starting with the first Test in Perth on November 24.Hayden believes that Australia's home advantage has diminished due to the widespread use of drop-in pitches by Cricket Australia. Of the five venues hosting the BGT, three will feature drop-in pitches: Perth, Adelaide, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)."I feel like there's less home advantage given the nature of the drop-in wickets than what had been previously there," Hayden said. "There are three drop-in venues -- Perth, Adelaide, and the MCG."Adelaide will host the day-night second Test from December 6, while the MCG will stage the fourth Test, beginning on Boxing Day (December 26). The fifth Test in Sydney will commence on January 3, 2025."So you've got your two home venues in Brisbane and Sydney; those just happen to be the third and fifth Test match, which is a very different combination to any series that's been played there," Hayden added. "I feel like at the moment there is probably not that much home advantage in the Australian summer anymore due to the wicket conditions."Before the start of the series, India will participate in a three-day warm-up match against India A, who will be touring Australia concurrently.

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India promises to be a thrilling contest, with runs expected to be at a premium. Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden believes that the team that can score the most runs will have a significant advantage."I sense that it is going to be runs that are going to be the point of difference," Hayden said. "So the best need to stand up in this series; runs are going to be at a premium."Hayden also noted that the fact that Australia has not defeated India in a Test series on home soil in almost 10 years will be playing on the minds of the Australian players."We have not had it in our hands for two series in Australia, which is kind of the coveted grounds," Hayden said. "So there is always, and this is why I think it is such a special series, there is always this fantastic opportunity for the number one and the number two side on the World Test Championship table to go head-to-head, especially abroad, in each other's camps, and see who really has those kind of final rights to claim not only the possibility of playing the Test Championship but also who is the very best of the best, which you judge on how you tour, not so much how you play at home."The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence with the first Test at Perth Stadium from November 22 to November 26. The second Test will be a day-night match at Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 10. The third Test will be held at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18. The fourth Test will be the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The fifth and final Test will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.

Former Australian opening batter Matthew Hayden has expressed his disapproval of the idea of Steven Smith opening the batting in Tests. Hayden believes that Smith should continue to bat in the middle order, where he has been most successful.Hayden, who was Australia's most prolific Test opener before David Warner surpassed him in 2023, emphasized the importance of protecting the top three batting positions in Test cricket. He argued that opening the batting is a specialized role that requires different skills and experience than batting in the middle order.Smith's brief stint as an opener earlier this year yielded disappointing results. In eight innings, he was dismissed for 12 or less on five occasions and averaged only 28.50. In contrast, he averages 67.07 at No. 3 and 61.50 at No. 4.Hayden believes that moving Smith to the opening slot would be a mistake. He pointed out that Smith is one of the world's best batters in his current position and that changing his role would send the wrong message to the first-class system.If Australia decides to move Smith back down the order, they will need to find a new opening partner for Usman Khawaja. Hayden acknowledged that Warner's departure has left a void in the opening slot, but he expressed confidence that Australia has talented players in the pipeline who can fill the role.Smith himself has stated that he is open to batting anywhere for the team. However, both captain Pat Cummins and national selector George Bailey have indicated that Australia is likely to stick with the same top six for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India.

Australia's home advantage in Test cricket has diminished in recent years, according to former batter Matthew Hayden. Hayden believes that the nature of pitches and the rise of drop-in wickets have leveled the playing field, making runs a premium in upcoming series.Hayden highlighted that three of the five venues for the upcoming Test series against India feature drop-in wickets, including the day-night Test in Adelaide. He noted that twilight conditions can make batting particularly challenging, reducing Australia's traditional dominance.Australia has lost its last two home series against India and has seen its fortress in Brisbane breached twice in three years. Hayden believes that the upcoming series will be an "unbelievable and historic" contest between the top two Test teams in the world.Hayden declined to pick a favorite for the series, emphasizing the strength of both lineups. He stressed that runs will be crucial, with experienced batters Virat Kohli and Steven Smith likely to play key roles.Hayden also discussed the challenges that India's batters will face in Australian conditions, including the steeper bounce and larger grounds. He praised the strokeplay of young batter Yashasvi Jaiswal but cautioned that he will be tested by Australia's world-class speedsters.

Virat Kohli's experience and adaptability will be crucial for India's success in the Caribbean leg of the T20 World Cup 2024, according to former Australian opener Matthew Hayden. Despite Kohli's modest run tally so far, Hayden believes his ability to assess surfaces and adjust to different conditions will be invaluable.Kohli has scored just 5 runs in three innings during the group stage, but Hayden emphasizes that his recent form in the IPL, where he was the leading run-getter, is a testament to his class. Hayden highlights the importance of constructing innings in the Caribbean, where par scores are typically lower than in other venues.Hayden also advocates for Kohli to continue opening alongside Rohit Sharma, arguing that it allows him to maximize his impact. He points to David Warner's performance in the World Cup as an example of how experienced batters can adapt to challenging conditions.However, Hayden cautions Kohli about maintaining a high strike rate, particularly in the powerplay overs. He emphasizes the importance of being proactive in the early stages of the innings to avoid falling behind.Meanwhile, Ian Bishop praises Jasprit Bumrah's exceptional bowling performance in the tournament. Bishop attributes Bumrah's success to his intelligence, variations, and unique action. He believes that Bumrah's reputation as a generational bowler has made batters wary of attacking him.

MS Dhoni's legacy continues to inspire players and fans worldwide, despite India's lack of major ICC trophies since his retirement. Australian legend Matthew Hayden, who played under Dhoni for three years at Chennai Super Kings, has heaped praise on the former Indian captain.Hayden, a member of Australia's dominant teams in the early 2000s, believes Dhoni could have easily led an Australian dressing room. "He believes that he is not bigger than anyone else," said Hayden. "He'll collect bags, he'll throw cricket balls."Hayden's compliments are particularly significant in light of recent incidents at the 2024 T20 World Cup. Australia's ODI World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins was seen carrying drinks for his teammates in their T20 World Cup opener against Oman, despite not playing. Hayden believes Dhoni would have been equally selfless."He's a very humble individual," stated Hayden. "Dhoni finds a way to galvanise people, where it's nothing about ego, nothing about self-promotion."Chennai Super Kings face a daunting task in replacing Dhoni's leadership. Despite winning the title in 2023 under Dhoni's captaincy, CSK failed to qualify for the play-offs this season with Ruturaj Gaikwad at the helm."Dhoni will remain the iconic leader of CSK forever," said Hayden. "That's his charm, but also his X-factor."Team India continues to search for its first T20 World Cup title since 2007, when Dhoni led a young Indian team to victory. Dhoni's legacy as a selfless and inspiring leader serves as a reminder of the qualities needed to achieve success at the highest level.

Matthew Hayden, the former Australian cricketer, has expressed his belief that MS Dhoni's exceptional leadership qualities and selfless attitude make him capable of captaining even the Australian cricket team. Hayden, who played under Dhoni for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, highlighted Dhoni's humility and team-first approach as key attributes that set him apart."Dhoni is exactly what I was saying before. He can easily sit in an Australian dressing room and easily captain it because he believes that he is not bigger than anyone else. He'll collect bags, he'll throw cricket balls. He's just a very humble individual. And he works hard at the team and not on promoting MS Dhoni," Hayden said in a conversation with Sports Vikatan.Hayden, who was part of CSK's first IPL-winning team, emphasized Dhoni's ability to galvanize his teammates without seeking the limelight. "You'll never hear him telling people how great he is or what he's achieved. That is MS Dhoni's X-factor. You look at Australia and go '25 million people. How did they win the World Cup against us?' MS Dhoni... he just finds a way to galvanize people together and does it in a way that is nothing about ego, not about self-promotion," Hayden added.Since retiring from international cricket in August 2020, Dhoni has continued to lead CSK with distinction, adding two more IPL titles to his name in 2021 and 2023, bringing the team's total to five. Hayden attributes Dhoni's enduring popularity and success to his humble beginnings and unwavering focus on the team."Coming from a small village and finding a way to the hearts of India and hearts of Chennai in particular. Thala will remain the iconic leader of this franchise forever. But to hear him saying how great he is... you don't even hear from MS Dhoni. And that's his charm. Team before anyone and everyone loves that," Hayden mentioned.Dhoni's legacy as a captain and player continues to inspire, with his unique blend of humility, leadership, and strategic acumen earning him admiration worldwide.

India's T20 World Cup Batting Order: Hayden Advocates for Kohli as OpenerAs India prepares for their T20 World Cup opener against Ireland, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has sparked a debate over the team's batting order. Hayden believes that Virat Kohli should open the innings, while Rohit Sharma would be more effective batting at number four.Hayden's suggestion stems from the importance of having a left-right combination at the top of the order to counter opposition leg-spinners. He argues that Kohli's exceptional record as an opener and his recent Orange Cap win in IPL 2024 make him the ideal candidate for the role."You have to have a left-right combination. You can't have five right-handers in a row. Australia would just say hello to Zampa," Hayden said. "Kohli has to open or he does not play in my team. He is in absolute red-hot form."Hayden also believes that Rohit Sharma's versatility and experience make him a better fit for the middle order. "Rohit is a versatile player and does not shy away from batting in that middle order. He has a successful record in T20I cricket batting at No. 4 and he can lead the batting group from the early middle order," he explained.Kohli's record in T20 World Cups is exceptional. He is the tournament's highest run-getter with 1141 runs in 27 matches at an average of 81.50. His inclusion as an opener would provide India with a solid foundation and allow him to set the tone for the innings.However, there is speculation that India might opt for the opening pair of Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal. This would leave Kohli at number three, a position he has also excelled in.Ultimately, the decision of India's batting order will rest with the team management. They will need to weigh the pros and cons of each option and determine the lineup that gives them the best chance of success in the T20 World Cup.