5 lesser-known facts about Matthew Hayden
Legendary Australian opener Matthew Hayden celebrated his 53rd birthday on October 29, 2024.
3. The Mongoose bat
The southpaw created a huge buzz in the Indian Premier League 2010 when he took the field with the unconventional Mongoose bat for Chennai Super Kings. The distinctive bat, featuring a longer handle and a shorter but thicker hitting surface, became an instant talking point.
Hayden's most memorable innings with the Mongoose came against Delhi Daredevils on March 19 in Feroz Shah Kotla (now Arun Jaitley Stadium), Delhi, where he smashed a match winnings 93 off just 43 balls, guiding CSK to chase down 186 runs with five wickets to spare.
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The Mongoose bat's unique design, though reducing the overall hitting surface, provided extra power through its bulky base and extended handle. Despite Hayden's success with the bat, particularly in this explosive innings, the Mongoose failed to gain interest among other cricketers.
“Mongoose product was a step in the right direction. It was a brave, courageous decision to use it. I believed it was going to make my game better. On a couple of occasions, I used it, I loved it, it was fun,” Hayden said in a video for CSK Live.
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