Flamboyant and Ruthless: Happy Birthday, Hayden

Hayden's unflappable demeanour combined with precise and powerful shot-making enabled him to rack up 14,758 international runs.

Hayden announced his retirement from all international and first-class cricket prior to the tour of South Africa in 2008–09.

The big, burly Matthew Hayden symbolised Australia's ruthlessness in an era that saw the team roll over opponents with an aura of invincibility. 

His unflappable demeanour combined with precise and powerful shot-making enabled him to rack up 14,758 international runs (8625 Test + 6133 ODI) at a combined average of 47.625. It included a mammoth 380 in a Test against Zimbabwe in Perth, briefly surpassing Brian Lara's record score of 375. 

One of the highlights of his 17-year-long career was the 2000-01 tour to India where he swept his way to 549 runs studded with two fifties and as many hundreds. He would later go on to emerge as a brutal force in the shorter versions of the game, mowing bowlers into submission.

The flamboyant left-hand opener, strong off both front foot and back, lit up the Indian Premier League in his twilight years.

 

The flamboyant left-hand opener, strong off both front foot and back, lit up the Indian Premier League in his twilight years. Representing Chennai Super Kings in 32 matches, he amassed 1107 runs at a strike-rate of 137.51.

Hayden announced his retirement from all international and first-class cricket prior to the tour of South Africa in 2008–09 and has been an insightful voice behind the microphone since. He has spent considerable time in the subcontinent, calling the game in the IPL as well as Tamil Nadu's domestic T20 League TNPL.