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Craig HillMatthew Hayden Nominates Personal Highlights
January 14th 2009 10:37
Matthew Hayden has nominated Australia's most recent Ashes triumph, World Cup wins and his partnerships and friendships formed with fellow Australian cricketers as some of the personal highlights he will cherish the most.
Hayden, speaking after announcing his retirement, was at first coy when talking about his recollections of his 15-years international career.
"There's a book of them," Hayden replied when asked about his favourite cricket memories.
"If you were to ask me what the highlight of my personal career would be, I think my answer would be playing in the Australian cricket team for the last decade and the absolute highs and highs of winning series."
"It's a wonderful achievement to play one Test match ... I feel very privileged to be in a position where I've had longevity because I've experienced the enormity of the experience in the longer term."
The 37-year-old opened up when talking about Australia's effort to regain the Ashes in the 2006-07 series, which it took out 5-0.
"Team highlights have been phenomenal, Ashes victories both home and away," he said.
"The last one here at home was particularly rewarding because our backs were up against the wall, we had a changing of the guard to a smaller degree, but we had great passion and energy going into that domestic summer."
"The one before in 2001 we retained the Ashes in 11 days, it was a ridiculous thumping, but this was a good side on our soil which had great confidence and had tasted victory."
The opener, who plundered 659 runs at an average of 73.22 to be the best batsmen at the 2007 World Cup, also nominated his side's successes in the one-day format as something exceptional.
"The World Cup victories were phenomenal achievements, there were headlines going around that Australia was unbeatable and it was boring to watch," he said.
"Both the World Cup campaigns, these are times which I'm sure will be cherished and will be highlights of cricketing agendas for decades to come ... but to be a part of it is just amazing."
"We'll never forget them."
Hayden paid special tribute to the captaincy of Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh, along with the efforts of Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer amongst others.
"The wizardry of Warne spinning it past the off stump of batsmen, (and I was fortunate to be) standing there in the grandstand position of first slip (to watch it)," he said.
"To be there with the McGraths, the Gillespies, and the gutsy players like your Bichels and Kasprowiczs that have run in and just bowled their heart out for decades."
"The partnerships that I have forged with someone like 'Gilly' (Gilchrist), who statistically cannot be defined because it just does not do his skill-set justice, sitting there watching the way that he plays was just a front-row seat to a highlights package."
"The determination, the ruggedness and desire of Justin Langer, just such a quality human being and I feel so privileged to have played with him."
"To share something like Justin retiring, Warney retiring, 'Gilly' retiring, they are memories that you never get back."
Hayden nominated legendary West Indian new-ball duo Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh as the best bowlers he had faced in combination, with Harbhajan Singh and Muttiah Muralitharan the best spin bowlers he had dealt with.
"Your (Allan) Donalds, (Shaun) Pollocks of South Africa, there have just been so many guys that we've competed with over a long period of time that have been the masters of their game," he said.
Hayden, speaking after announcing his retirement, was at first coy when talking about his recollections of his 15-years international career.
"There's a book of them," Hayden replied when asked about his favourite cricket memories.
"If you were to ask me what the highlight of my personal career would be, I think my answer would be playing in the Australian cricket team for the last decade and the absolute highs and highs of winning series."
"It's a wonderful achievement to play one Test match ... I feel very privileged to be in a position where I've had longevity because I've experienced the enormity of the experience in the longer term."
The 37-year-old opened up when talking about Australia's effort to regain the Ashes in the 2006-07 series, which it took out 5-0.
"Team highlights have been phenomenal, Ashes victories both home and away," he said.
"The last one here at home was particularly rewarding because our backs were up against the wall, we had a changing of the guard to a smaller degree, but we had great passion and energy going into that domestic summer."
"The one before in 2001 we retained the Ashes in 11 days, it was a ridiculous thumping, but this was a good side on our soil which had great confidence and had tasted victory."
The opener, who plundered 659 runs at an average of 73.22 to be the best batsmen at the 2007 World Cup, also nominated his side's successes in the one-day format as something exceptional.
"The World Cup victories were phenomenal achievements, there were headlines going around that Australia was unbeatable and it was boring to watch," he said.
"Both the World Cup campaigns, these are times which I'm sure will be cherished and will be highlights of cricketing agendas for decades to come ... but to be a part of it is just amazing."
"We'll never forget them."
Hayden paid special tribute to the captaincy of Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh, along with the efforts of Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer amongst others.
"The wizardry of Warne spinning it past the off stump of batsmen, (and I was fortunate to be) standing there in the grandstand position of first slip (to watch it)," he said.
"To be there with the McGraths, the Gillespies, and the gutsy players like your Bichels and Kasprowiczs that have run in and just bowled their heart out for decades."
"The partnerships that I have forged with someone like 'Gilly' (Gilchrist), who statistically cannot be defined because it just does not do his skill-set justice, sitting there watching the way that he plays was just a front-row seat to a highlights package."
"The determination, the ruggedness and desire of Justin Langer, just such a quality human being and I feel so privileged to have played with him."
"To share something like Justin retiring, Warney retiring, 'Gilly' retiring, they are memories that you never get back."
Hayden nominated legendary West Indian new-ball duo Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh as the best bowlers he had faced in combination, with Harbhajan Singh and Muttiah Muralitharan the best spin bowlers he had dealt with.
"Your (Allan) Donalds, (Shaun) Pollocks of South Africa, there have just been so many guys that we've competed with over a long period of time that have been the masters of their game," he said.
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Go to Craig Hill's home page for information about corporate training courses, university preparation courses and writing services available
