Matthew Hayden Retires

Matthew Hayden has retired today, ending a career which spanned 103 tests, 161 ODIs and 9 T20Is. He now joins a big list of players who have retired since the 06/07 Ashes.

In front of many onlookers at the Gabba, Hayden read out a statement, while at times looking he'd get emotional. He thanked his sponsors, backroom staff, his teammates and most importantly his family for helping him throughout his career.

Hayden said that it was picking Tomatoes with his daughter that told him it was time. "I was with Grace at the time... and I said darling, I think I've had enough. I just want to be here." he said.

Hayden will be remembered as one of the most dominant opening batsmen the world has ever seen. He made 8625 runs in tests at an average of 50.24. His highest score of 380 against Zimbabwe was the highest score ever until it was broken a year later by Brian Lara. He scored 30 test centuries, the most by an Australian opening batsman. In ODIs, he made 6133 runs at an average of 43.80 with 10 centuries and a highest score of 181* against New Zealand.

Hayden fought back numerous times during his career, and was able to keep his place in the side. In 2000, he broke into the team after a 3 year hiatus. Captain Ricky Ponting spoke in high praise of his career and the way he could fight back against the odds. "Leading into that last World Cup, his place in the side was under pressure... he actually took it upon himself to reinvent his game at the age of 33 or 34."

In 2005, he scored a century in the final Ashes test at the Oval which saved him from being axed. In 2007, Hayden nearly lost his ODI spot forever, until he made a century against New Zealand at the WACA. He went on to dominate at the World Cup, scoring 659 runs at 73.22 which included 3 centuries, and the fastest ever century by a player in the World Cup.

But there have also been massive periods of dominance, most notably in 2001 when he scored 549 in a 3 match series against India at an average 109.80. This earned him the Allan Border medal for the year and was the first real time that he announced himself as a star opener.

In 2005, Hayden scored 4 centuries in the same amount of games against England, the World XI and the West Indies. Matthew Hayden became the first person to score a thousand runs in 5 consecutive calendar years.

In 2007 he dominated the World Cup, almost winning the player of the series. In the following summer, he dominated against India hitting centuries in the 3 matches that he played in.

Not only do the Australian selectors have to find an opening batsman who can dominate like Hayden, they have to find another person to field at first slip. For many years, Hayden has been superb in that area and in the gully, taking 128 catches in tests, and 68 in ODIs. His brilliant fielding has been a great asset to the Australian team, and they will now need to find someone to fill that position at first slip.

Matthew Hayden was a champion of the game, and will be remembered as one of the greatest opening batsmen of all time. He will be sorely missed.

David Warner: A future One Day star?

Before last night, David Warner had never played a first-class game, and had only played 10 One Dayers for New South Wales. After his effort of 89 from 43 balls against the Proteas, he will be most certain to have at least one 4 day game beside his name by the end of the season.

Warner lit up the MCG last night, hitting 6 sixes and 7 fours at an amazing strike rate of 207. The innings earned him the man of the match award and was even compared with former Aussie great Adam Gilchrist for his clean hitting. "It was like you were out there with Gilly when he was in one of those moods," skipper Ricky Ponting said.

Warner became just the 2nd Australian in 132 years to play an international match without a first class game, and after his performance, there have been calls for him to be added to the one day squad.

Just a month ago, Warner was playing grade cricket for Easts cricket club in Sydney, but some superb form for his New South Wales team, including 165* and 97 against Tasmania and some brilliant Twenty20 form gave him his call up to the Australian Team and an IPL contract with the Dehli Daredevils. "A month ago I was playing for my grade side and then New South Wales and now out here, it's simply amazing." he said after earning the man of the match award.

There were criticisms that Warner didn't have enough experience to play an international match, but they were silenced by his big hitting. At only 170cm, Warner has incredible power for such a short man. He has great strength in his forearms which are a great asset to his favourite shot, the pull shot. This strength helped him hit many of his sixes that went into the MCG crowd last night.

He is one of the 3 players along with big hitters Aiden Blizzard and Marcus North who are trialling the new double sided bat by Gray-Nicolls in the Australian Domestic T20 competition. Warner trialled it in a T20 against South Australia at Adelaide Oval and hit a Shaun Tait bouncer onto the roof of one of the stands. He did not use it at the MCG, but he didn't need it.

It is only a matter of time before we see this bloke playing First Class cricket, then maybe One Day international cricket for Australia. Who knows, he could turn into a great opener, or he could be a one hit wonder. Only time will tell. But for now, everyone is on the Warner bandwagon.

Graeme Smith - The perfect example of sheer guts and determination

When Graeme Smith last came to Australia, he was known only as a cocky and aggressive captain who could not back up his predictions in the media. He was genuinely disliked in the general public. But today, he was given a standing ovation by the Australian crowd, usually given for a player in his last match. But no, Smith wasn't playing in his last match, he was coming in at number 11, heavily injured to try and help South Africa draw a dead rubber.

In the first innings, Mitchell Johnson bowled a delivery that hit a crack, and reared back to hit Smith which broke a bone in his left hand. He was forced to retire hurt, and ended up going to hospital only to return back at the ground with his arm in a cast. (Smith out for 6 weeks with broken finger). He was unable to bat again in the first innings and didn't field for the rest of the game.

Adding to his worries was an elbow tendon injury which had been troubling him for months. He was already going to miss the next 5 weeks to try and heal the elbow to full strength. After picking up the broken finger, he flew down to Melbourne on day 3 of the test to get blood transferred into it to help it heal better.

Before this series, Smith had only average 22 against Australia with a highest score of 69. But despite the elbow injury, he has performed brilliantly throughout the whole tour, scoring a hundred in Perth and back to back half centuries in Melbourne.

Early on day 5, South Africa coach said that the only possibility of Smith batting would be "If there is one over or two overs to see out the game for a draw, or one or two required to win". And that's exactly what happened, he walked out to bat at number 11 with just over 8 overs left and just half an hour remaining in the day. Despite the Australians thinking he wouldn't bat and that they had won the test.

He had his hand heavily taped up and faced a barrage of short balls from the Australia quicks. Makhaya Ntini was given most of the strike as they survived for another 6 overs before; with 1.4 overs and just 5 minutes remaining to draw the test, Johnson was able to hit a crack and bowl Smith to give Australia victory.

Even though South Africa lost, the crowd applauded Smith for one one of the gutsiest efforts in recent times. In doing so, he won man of the series for his batting during the whole tour. That decision to walk out to bat may have just snatched it from Dale Steyn's hands.

It hasn't just been his courage and overcoming his poor form against Australia, it was also his captaincy. His brilliant thinking helped sway the first 2 tests back South Africa's way, and lead to the downfall of Australia's top order a number of times. He was able to place his fields precisely to where Hayden was playing rash strokes, he was able to strangle Mike Hussey, and his decision making stopped Australia from making big scores. Only twice did an Australian batsman make a hundred in the series. Ricky Ponting in Melbourne, and Michael Clarke in Sydney.

If Smith hadn't won over Australian fans by the 5th day in Sydney, he sure did when he took that brave step and went out to bat.

Kudos Graeme Smith.

Hayden fighting against all odds to save career

Who would've thought just some 12 months ago after scoring his 103 at the Adelaide Oval; his 3rd century in a row, that Matthew Hayden would be fighting for his career in the final test against South Africa at the SCG. If you had told someone that Hayden would be doing exactly that, most would have laughed at you.

But after a deplorable summer against New Zealand and South Africa in which he has ended up with a meager 128 runs in 9 innings at an average of just 16 with a highest score of 31, Hayden's career has turned upside down with media, opposition and even his own fans turning on him.

Hayden has been fighting hard all summer, but some good planning, unlucky decisions and some run outs have brought him down. He struggled in New Zealand, 8 and a golden duck at the Gabba, and 24 at the Adelaide oval. That 24 was in his 100th test and it was the best he looked all summer. He played his shots and was all set for a century before a major mix up resulted in his run out.

Against the South Africans, it looked like Matthew Hayden was going to smash himself back into form, but in Perth and yet again in Melbourne, he tried to attack one ball too many and got himself out. All summer, Hayden has gotten over-confident and has ended up going for too many big shots instead of playing sensible and playing each ball on its merits.

Back in 2005, Hayden had a dismal winter in England, but ended up grinding and scrapping his way to a career saving century. In the first innings of the final test up at Sydney, Hayden went for the same method, scrapping together his highest score of the summer, 31. But he couldn't hide the attacking nature in which he has played for the majority of his career, and went out.

The media have been on his back all summer, but he has denied that he will retire and many of his teammates and family have had to come out and defend him. There have even been calls from fans to drop him so that they can blood young players like Phil Hughes or Michael Klinger.

This evening Hayden walked out for what could possible be the last time, with a big reception from his crowd and a very noticeably nervous wife. He played his shots and it seemed that the gods were with him after he survived a very close LBW shout that many thought would have hit between middle and leg stump. Not many will forget when Dan Vettori dropped Hayden early on in a one dayer in the CB series 2 years ago. He ended up going on to make a century and saving his one day career.

Tomorrow he will be looking for a big knock, just like that in 2005. But with a pitch that is crumbling with cracks everywhere, it will be very tough. You cannot put down Hayden though, he has shown many times during his career that he can produce knocks right when they are needed, and we all hope he can do that tomorrow. Even if he doesn't and it ends up his last test innings, he will still be remembered as one of the greats.

Smith out for 6 weeks with broken finger

South Africa’s hopes of completing a white wash against the Australians have been dealt a massive blow with Graeme Smith having his finger broken while batting in South Africa’s first innings.

Aussie speedster Mitchell Johnson got a ball to rear off a crack and cut back to hit Smith on the pinky. Smith called for the doctors, but his finger swelled up immediately and he was unable to put his glove back on and had to leave the field.

He left the ground and went to hospital where his worst fears were realised, and late returned with his hand heavily cast and the news that he would be out for 6 weeks. Smith was already going to miss the 5 match ODI series with an elbow injury that had given him much trouble for the whole tour.

He was 30* at the time, and the South Africans recovered well to be 1/125 at stumps. He has had a brilliant summer, averaging 80 runs against the Australians, including a superb century in Perth which helped South Africa chase 414. He also hit 2 half centuries in Melbourne to help them to their first ever series win in Australia.

Smith should be fit for the return tour which starts in late February.

The All Rounder Debacle - Who can fill that No.6 spot for Australia?

Australia has come to a road block when looking for an all rounder. Should we be playing one is the real question.

Ever since the Ashes of 2005 when Andrew Flintoff dominated against the Australians, the selectors have been hell bent on finding a Freddy that can bowl and regularly take wickets, while also making runs with the bat. Symonds looked the part after a couple of seasons of success, but the IPL and a number of off field discretions seem to have put his mind elsewhere.

This summer we've tried a number of all rounders, but they have either struggled or are injured. Shane Watson had a very good tour of India, picking up 10 wickets at 32 and making 172 runs at an average of 24.

But he was dropped for Andrew Symonds after a poor test against New Zealand at the Gabba. Symonds has been nothing special as well in his return from the 'Gone Fishing' saga. In 4 tests against both New Zealand and South Africa, Symonds has come up with 167 runs at an average of 24 and just the 1 wicket for a total of 57 runs. The selectors added more confusion to the debacle when Symonds was chosen over Watson even though he needed surgery on his Knee. Then the news that Watson was out for 6 months with stress fractures in his break.

Who should fill that number 6 position though? Victorian Andrew McDonald was chosen to make his debut at Sydney, adding more confusion as to why we need an All Rounder to fill that number 6 position.

We also have many sole batsmen who are looking for a spot in the Test team. Marcus North is the form middle order batsman in the Sheffield Shield at the moment, having scored 485 runs with 2 centuries in 12 innings at an average of 43.49.

Michael Klinger is the best batsman in the comp this summer and could always move down the order. He has scored 906 runs with 4 centuries at an average of over 90 this season. He might be just what we need to stop our lower order collapses.

Many others who could come into the side as a batsman include Callum Ferguson (380 runs this season at 38), Lee Carseldine (346 at 49), Rob Quiney (311 at 44) and Nick Jewell (377 at 41).

The other only option is to play 5 bowlers and move Haddin up to 6. This not a bad idea because the tail have very much wagged this season; the last 5 wickets averaging 183.13 in the 2 series against New Zealand and South Africa (Up until the 1st innings of the 3rd test). Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz and Peter Siddle have all showed that they can bat, which is more of a reason that they could bring Hilfenhaus in to try and take 20 wickets to win a test.

Australia is in a real mess at the moment, unable to take 20 wickets, and unable to make over 200 with less than 5 wickets lost. Whatever happens, Whether we keep trying with McDonald, go for an extra batsman or an extra bowler, Australia has a lot to do to become the force they once were.