In a recent development that has sent ripples through the cricketing world, former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden voiced his concerns over the absence of David Warner in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. David Warner, one of the most prolific openers in Australian cricket history, recently announced his retirement from international cricket, leaving a significant void in the Australian side.
Having played 112 Tests for Australia and amassing 8786 runs at a commendable average of nearly 45, Warner’s stats speak volumes of his consistency and dynamism. Hayden, himself a celebrated left-handed opener, did not mince words in expressing how much Warner’s absence will be felt during the high-stakes series against India.
“For the first time, it doesn’t feel as secure,” Hayden remarked on Wednesday. “David Warner gave great service to Australian cricket. He was extremely competitive, wonderfully dynamic. He really took that legacy that I’d created through the 2000s. His strike rates in excess of 80 (actual strike rate being 70.19) provided significant momentum to the top order, which otherwise can be quite conservative. I think he is an enormous loss and replacing him will be challenging.”
Warner has always had a remarkable record against India. He has played 21 Tests against them, scoring 1218 runs at an average of 31.23, with four centuries, all of which were scored on Australian soil. This record highlights his impactful presence against a formidable Indian bowling lineup.
Matthew Hayden, currently in Mumbai for the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards, also voiced his opinion against the idea of promoting Steve Smith to the opening position. “The rationale that George Bailey [chief selector] gave was correct. He thought it was about choosing his best top six players, batsman. Now, you can’t argue with that. Steve Smith averages 56.97 and has 32 Test match hundreds. However, the role of an opening batsman compared to a middle-order batsman is very different. It didn’t take long to discover that [in New Zealand earlier in the year when Smith as an opener was not exactly a success]. I said at the time that I didn’t like the change.
. I think it’s crazy to move the world’s best-in-class batter from his usual position to a completely different one.”
Adding another layer to his critique, Hayden emphasized the importance of stability and familiarity, especially in high-pressure series like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Australian cricketing legend did not hold back in voicing his strong support for Smith to retain his original position in the middle order, which has brought him and the team significant success over the years.
Hayden also provided his perspective on Pat Cummins’ captaincy, expressing his admiration and confidence in Cummins’ leadership style. “He’s a great of our game,” Hayden commented about Cummins, who has already led Australia to a World Cup and World Test Championship (WTC) victory. “He has a very special leadership style and ability. It’s very different from the former kind of captains of the Australian team who were very much a carrot and stick type approach. He’s operating on a model that’s bringing out the individuals’ preparation, something in which I think our game struggles, being a team sport. Ultimately, it’s about how you get the best out of an individual. He has a slightly off-centre approach, and I’ve followed this team now very closely over the last two years; they are an extremely close team. Pat is a great leader, and he will go down as one of our greats.”
Hayden’s enthusiasm was palpable when he discussed the prospect of an extended five-Test series against India. “It’s going to be an unbelievable series, and actually, not without great minds coming together. It is even more special by extending it to five Test matches. In three Test matches, you always feel half pregnant; in four Test matches, there’s always that swinging boat. Whereas in five Test matches, you’ve got a chance to win, you also get a chance to lose, and then you get a chance to come back and win. I love it. It’s going to be a great series.”
The anticipation around the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is further heightened by the fact that India and Australia have not played a five-Test series since 1991/92. This much-anticipated series will kick off in Perth on November 22, followed by Tests in Adelaide (from December 6), Brisbane (from December 14), Melbourne (from December 26), and Sydney (from January 3). India has emerged victorious in the last two series in Australia, in 2018/19 and 2020/21, and Australia has not seized the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for over a decade, since the home series in 2014/15.
As the cricketing world braces itself for this epic showdown, Hayden’s insights add an extra layer of intrigue and expectation. David Warner’s absence will indeed be felt, and how Australia adapts to this significant change will be crucial in determining the outcome of this historic series.