Hayden bids adieu to game

One of Australia’s greatest opening batsmen Matthew Hayden called stumps on Tuesday on one of international cricket’s most imposing careers. The 37-year-old batsman did not go out of the game the way he would have wanted — having to call a press conference to announce his retirement, widely anticipated after his struggling form in Australia’s recent series losses. But the powerfully-built Hayden will be remembered as one of the modern-day cricketing titans, amassing 8,625 runs in 103 Tests at an impressive average of 50.74.

His departure further strips the transitional Australian cricket team of another big-name star, following the retirements of celebrated teammates, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist in the last two years. Only skipper Ricky Ponting remains of the players who twice (from 1999-2001 and 2006-2008) won a record 16 Tests in succession.

“Today I am announcing my retirement from representative cricket effective immediately,” Hayden told the press conference at his home Gabba ground.
“This is a decision that I have not taken lightly and I am here after much thought, consideration and discussion with my family and close friends.
“It is ultimately my decision and I know that now is the time to move on to the next stage of my life and career.”

Hayden’s decision comes against the backdrop of meagre returns in Australia’s back-to-back series losses to India and South Africa. Since returning from an Achilles injury suffered during last year’s Indian Twenty20 Premier League, Hayden scored 383 runs at 23.93 in his last nine Tests, less than half of his career Test average. Hayden had been desperately trying to cling onto his spot for a final Ashes series in England in mid-year before retiring from the game.

But the signs were there that he had lost the support of selectors, who left him out of the Twenty20 and one-day teams in the wake of the Test series loss to South Africa. Yet Hayden leaves cricket with 30 Test centuries, which ranks him sixth all-time behind Indian Sachin Tendulkar’s 41. Hayden’s 380 scored against Zimbabwe in Perth in October 2003 stands second only to West Indian Brian Lara’s world record 400 not out as the highest individual innings in Test cricket. He formed with Justin Langer one of Australia’s more durable opening partnerships in Test cricket.