In a recent statement, former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden expressed his concern that the Australian team will deeply miss the dynamism and consistency offered by David Warner in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Warner, a stalwart of the Australian cricket team who has played 112 Tests amassing 8786 runs at an impressive average close to 45, has announced his retirement from international cricket.
“For the first time, it doesn’t feel as secure,” Hayden commented on Wednesday, a sentiment that reflects the uncertainty looming over the Australian squad in Warner’s absence. “David 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.”
Warner’s record against India is notable but presents a mixed bag; in his 21 Tests against the subcontinental powerhouse, Warner managed to score 1218 runs with an average of 31.23, punctuated by four centuries, all achieved on Australian soil, where he scored 760 runs in 10 Tests.
Hayden, currently in Mumbai for the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards, also voiced his opposition to the idea of Steve Smith opening the batting order. “The rationale that George Bailey [chief selector] gave was correct. He thought it was about choosing his best top six players, batsman,” Hayden agreed, but added, “Now, you can’t argue with that. Steve Smith averages 65 (56.97) and has 30 (32) Test match hundreds. You know 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 think that you have the world’s best-in-class batter in a certain position. And then you change to a completely different position.
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Turning his attention to leadership within the Australian camp, Hayden reckons that Pat Cummins will cement his legacy as one of the greatest captains Australia has ever seen. “He’s a great of our game,” Hayden said of Cummins, who boasts achievements such as winning the World Cup and the World Test Championship (WTC) as a captain. “He has a very special leadership style and ability. It’s very different from the former 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.”
Additionally, Hayden felt that a five-Test series against India would add a significant layer of excitement and competitiveness. “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 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 is high for the highly awaited series, which sees Australia and India clashing in a five-Test series for the first time since 1991/92. The tour is scheduled to commence 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). Historically, India has triumphed in their last two tours to Australia, in 2018/19 and 2020/21. Australia, much to their dismay, has not reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since their home series win in 2014/15.
As the epic clash between two of cricket’s powerhouses looms closer, Hayden’s insights cast a sobering light on the challenges ahead for Australia, particularly in adapting to life without David Warner, whose exhilarating performances will undoubtedly be sorely missed.