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A homecoming for Hayden

Special Correspondent

— Photo: V. Ganesan

BONDING WITH FANS: Matthew Hayden, whose association with Chennai goes back a long way, takes time off from practice to sign a few autographs on Monday.

Chennai: In several senses, it’s been a homecoming for Matthew Hayden. It was at the Chepauk in the late 90s that Hayden sweated it out with a bunch of Aussie aspirants to hone his skills in the sub-continental conditions.

The Australian Board had sent Hayden along with several less experienced cricketers on a journey of learning to India. In fact, Hayden, a failure in international cricket at that point in time, volunteered to make the trip to India. There was a subsequent turn-around in his career.

Sweeping success

When the Aussies campaigned here in 2001, Hayden’s international comeback was complete; he was a ‘sweeping’ success. He also made a stroke-filled double hundred in the third Test at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

“I had always dreamt of making a hundred at Chepauk,” he confessed here on Monday.

Australia lost a humdinger at Chepauk and the series but Hayden, the batsman, was a winner.

Since then he has demolished attacks in different parts of the world.

His 8242 runs in 94 Tests come at a whopping average of 53.51. The Aussie has been influential in the ODIs as well, making 6133 runs in 161 matches at 43.80. In nine Twenty20 internationals, the left-hander has 308 runs at 51.33 (strike rate 143.92).

Now, he is back in India and is delighted to be with Chennai Super Kings.

“It’s great being with the Indian cricketers and see how they go about their cricket. I am enjoying being a part of the team,” he said.

Spirit in the camp

Hayden spoke about the spirit in the camp and said the cricketers were discovering themselves in the Twenty20 format.

“If you had asked Michael Hussey about a week ago whether he would have made a hundred in Twenty20, he would have been doubtful. Now, he has one.”

Hayden said opening the innings in Twenty20 cricket was a lot about taking calculated risks. “It is about taking the right risks, especially when the field restrictions are on.”

Praise for Dhoni

Speaking about Dhoni’s captaincy, he said, “He is a very confident man. He led well in Mohali and has an aura about him.”

Asked whether Super Kings would miss Hussey, Jacob Oram and him, as they would be leaving the IPL scene after four games due to international commitments, he said, “Twenty20 cricket is not so much about the big names. In any case, Albie Morkel and Makhaya Ntini will be joining Super Kings.

“Morkel is a big striker of the ball and we all know about Ntini’s ability with the ball,” he added.

Local talent

Queried about local talent, Hayden said he would require some more time before he could come to a conclusion about the players’ ability. The Aussie believed the Twenty20 format was great for the game and would bring cricket a new generation of fans. The IPL, he said, would be a success.

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