Matthew Hayden, the legendary former Australian opener, has expressed concerns that the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be significantly impacted by the absence of David Warner. The dynamic and consistent left-hander recently announced his retirement from international cricket, leaving a void that many believe will be tough to fill. Warner, who has played 112 Tests for Australia, amassed 8786 runs with a commendable average nearing 45.
Hayden, known for his aggressive batting style and having once held the mantle of Australia’s opening batsman, lauded Warner’s contributions and expressed worry over the team’s future performance without him. Speaking from Mumbai, where Hayden was attending the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards, he reflected on Warner’s impact and the challenges ahead.
“For the first time, it doesn’t feel as secure,” Hayden lamented. “David Warner gave a great service to Australian cricket. He was extremely competitive and wonderfully dynamic. He really took that legacy that I’d created throughout the 2000s. His strike rates, which often exceeded 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 him.”
Warner’s record against India further underscores his value. In 21 Tests against the formidable Indian side, he scored 1218 runs at an average of 31.23, which includes four centuries—all scored on Australian soil, where he amassed 760 runs in 10 Tests. These figures speak volumes about his experience and capability to tackle tough oppositions, a quality Australia will sorely miss.
The discussion also veered towards team composition and leadership. Hayden voiced his disagreement regarding the idea of having Steve Smith, recently tried as an opener, to fill Warner’s shoes. Hayden explained, “The rationale that George Bailey [chief selector] gave was correct. He thought it was about choosing his best top six players, batsmen. 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.”
Citing a recent experiment during a series in New Zealand, Hayden recalled, “It didn’t take long to discover that [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.”
Further into the conversation, Hayden spoke highly of Pat Cummins, Australia’s current captain, predicting that he will be remembered as one of the country’s greatest leaders. “He’s a great of our game,” Hayden said of Cummins, who has already led the team to victories in the World Cup and World Test Championship (WTC). “He has a very special leadership style and ability. It’s very different from the former kind of captains of the Australian team that primarily used a carrot and stick approach.”
Hayden elaborated on Cummins’ individualized 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 about] 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.”
Turning his attention to the upcoming series, Hayden remarked on the excitement a five-Test series against India could provide. “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 much-anticipated series will commence on November 22 in Perth, followed by encounters in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. The Indian team, having won their last two series in Australia in 2018/19 and 2020/21, holds the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Australian side, last winners of the trophy on home soil in 2014/15, will be eager to reclaim it after a decade-long gap.