5 Knocks that metaphorize Matthew Hayden the shrewd hitter

5 Knocks that metaphorize Matthew Hayden the shrewd hitter: Matthew Hayden with a bat wielded between his palms was one of the most frightening prospects for most bowlers. He is one of those gifted players who could play equally proficient cricket in all three forms of the game. Normally it is tough to make appropriate amends in your batting technique so as to be efficacious in handling the red ball, as well be competent in the limited overs format. But for Hayden it is effortlessly easy-peasy. Despite a humble beginning to his career, he rose in stature and matured steadily as a player and eventually reached the summit of cricketing success. 1. 380 off 437 balls v Zimbabwe, 2003: This was and still is one of the most versatile Test innings of all time. Scoring 380 runs individually demands massive concentration, solid technique and inexorable will to succeed. And Matthew Hayden seemed to possess all of these admirable qualities as he dismantled the Zimbabwean bowling attack with his steady composure and reached the milestone by scoring a single off Ray Price. What is even more fabulous is that he scored those runs at a strike rate of 87. This Hayden innings made its way in the Guiness book of world records. Also Read – 30 Facts about Matthew Hayden – The humongous hitter 2. 93 off 43 balls, CSK v DD, 2010 IPL: This is easily one of the best T20 half centuries that you would ever get to witness. Matthew Hayden almost single-handedly ran through the Delhi Daredevils bowling line up to chase down their daunting score of 190 runs. He thwacked four boundaries in the first nine balls that he faced and it was the Mongoose all the way after that. He popularized the Mongoose bat and was particularly successful with that willow in the entire season. Hayden struck 9 fours and 7 sixes at a phenomenal strike rate of 216. 3. 101 v South Africa, 2007 World Cup: Hayden smashed one of the fastest world cup centuries in the history of the game, in fact the fastest 100 at that time. South Africa flaunted an imposing bowling attack with experienced campaigners like Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock. But Hayden was in no mood to relent. He had come in to the world cup with a broken toe but there were no signs of hindrance whatsoever as he and Gilchrist ripped apart the clueless Protea bowlers. He reached his 100 in just 66 balls and with that, he and Gilchrist became the most successful opening pair in the history of world cup. 4. 203 v India, 2001: This was a crucial knock in an all important series decider at Perth. Australia batted first. Matthew Hayden was in his signature flow right from the start of the innings and he scored his fifty in just 64 balls. Hayden and Mark Waugh shared an awe-inspiring 150 run stand for the third wicket. Notwithstanding that the Indian bowlers seemed to come back as the pitch slowed down picking up wickets, Hayden proved to be an unceasing pain in the back and he scored his first ever double century. 5. 181* off 166 balls v New Zealand, 2007: This is one of the better innings to unluckily end up on the losing side. Batting first Australia started tremendously well, with Hayden and Shane Watson smashing the Kiwi bowling attack to all parts of the ground. He hit 10 sixes in his savage assault and helped his side post an imposing 346 on the board. He was cudgelling the New Zealand bowlers effortlessly with his baseball-like strokes. But eventually, Craig McMillan’s brilliance with the bat stole the show and ensured that New Zealand completed a series whitewash.