Matthew Hayden, the renowned former Australian opener, expressed a significant sentiment of concern regarding the Australian cricket team’s future without David Warner, especially in the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year. Warner, an iconic figure in Australian cricket, recently announced his retirement from international cricket, leaving a substantial void in the team.
Warner’s illustrious career is defined by his impressive statistics: having played in 112 Tests, he amassed 8786 runs at an average close to 45. His striking ability and dynamic performances were often the backbone of Australia’s batting lineup. Hayden, himself a distinguished left-handed opener, underscored Warner’s vital contributions and expressed apprehensions over the implications of his absence. “For the first time, it doesn’t feel as secure,” Hayden mentioned on Wednesday. “Warner gave a 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 (70.19) gave great momentum to the top order which, otherwise, is quite conservative. So I think he’s an enormous loss in terms of how do you replace them.”
Reflecting on Warner’s performance against India, Hayden highlighted his noteworthy contributions which include 1218 runs in 21 Tests at an average of 31.23, a record embellished with four centuries in Australia. However, Warner’s absence raises questions about Australia’s strategy moving forward, particularly in the context of finding a suitable replacement who can match his vibrancy and flair.
Hayden, speaking at the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai, also voiced his opposition to the idea of promoting Steve Smith as an opener. He presented a compelling argument against this experiment. “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 65 (56.97 and has 30 (32) Test match hundreds. But the role of an opening batsman compared to a middle-order batsman is very different,” Hayden stated. He referenced Smith’s unsuccessful stint as an opener in New Zealand earlier in the year, stressing that moving a world-class middle-order batsman to the top of the order is illogical. “It didn’t take long to discover that [in New Zealand].
. I said at the time that I didn’t like the change. I think it’s crazy to think that you have the world’s best-in-class batter in a certain position. And then you change to a completely different position.”
Turning his attention to leadership, Hayden expressed admiration for Pat Cummins’ captaincy. Cummins, who has already etched his name in the annals of cricket history by leading Australia to World Cup and World Test Championship (WTC) victories, is regarded by Hayden as one of Australia’s greatest captains. “He’s a great of our game,” remarked Hayden. “He has a very special leadership style and ability. It’s very different from the former kind of captains of the Australian team that were very much a carrot and stick type approach. He’s operating on a model that’s bringing out the individuals’ preparation in particular, something in which I think our game struggles, being a team sport. Ultimately, [it’s] how you get the best out of an individual. He has a slightly off-centre approach. I followed this team now very closely over the last two years, and they’re an extremely close team. Pat is a great leader, and he will go down as one of our greats.”
Hayden also touched upon the potential excitement of a five-Test series against India, suggesting it would be more thrilling than the current format of three or four Tests. “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 get 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,” he enthused.
The last five-Test series between India and Australia dates back to 1991/92. The upcoming series, set to begin on November 22 in Perth, will be a test of mettle and strategy for both sides. Subsequent matches are scheduled in Adelaide (from December 6), Brisbane (from December 14), Melbourne (from December 26), and Sydney (from January 3). India, having clinched victories in the previous two series in Australia (2018/19 and 2020/21), will aim to extend their dominance, while Australia seeks to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy they last won in 2014/15. The cricketing world eagerly awaits this showdown, set to become a highlight in the sport’s rich history.