Hayden: Warner can be Australia's greatest opening batsman

Warner has struck fear into opposing bowling attacks, blasting 16 hundreds and 20 half-centuries in 51 Test matches for 4,506 runs. In one-day internationals, the heavy-hitting 29-year-old has tallied 2,537 runs in 71 ODIs, with five tons and 14 fifties.

"He's a joy to watch. The living room in our house comes alive every time he comes on to bat. It's stop, hold the phone and watch Dave play. He's brilliant."

From one opener to another, Matthew Hayden believes David Warner can become Australia's greatest opening batsman.

After some early issues, Warner has matured into one of the world's finest openers in all formats of the game.

Warner has struck fear into opposing bowling attacks, blasting 16 hundreds and 20 half-centuries in 51 Test matches for 4,506 runs.

In one-day internationals, the heavy-hitting 29-year-old has tallied 2,537 runs in 71 ODIs, with five tons and 14 fifties.

And former Australia batsman Hayden, one of cricket's greatest players having managed 30 Test centuries with a top score of 380 atop the order, feels Warner can go on to bigger and better things.

"I think he can be the best," Hayden told cricket.com.au . "He certainly knows now how to temper his performance and that's the hardest thing to learn.

"You can teach a lot of skills, but the mindset of a batsman is a mindset that takes time to learn. 

"That's why a lot of guys might disagree with a guy like [former Australia captain and Cricket Australia National Talent Manager] Greg Chappell, who says you can play your best cricket before you're 23. 

"I think that's complete rubbish. As a batsman you need to develop your timing. 

"You have a look at all the players that have come out of the last era, with the exception of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, they've all been guys who have matured into their performance. 

"Davey needed to mature as much as a person as he did a cricketer and he's done that. 

"He's made that transition into a family life, into a solid member of the team and he's got the temperament to play across each format of the game. 

"He's a joy to watch. The living room in our house comes alive every time he comes on to bat. 

"It's stop, hold the phone and watch Dave play. He's brilliant."