Matthew Hayden Lauds Team India For Their Ability To Fight Against The Odds And Script Victories Home And Away

Former Australian swashbuckling opener Matthew Hayden has heaped high praise on Team India’s ability to bounce back against the odds and script memorable victories.

Speaking to the Press Trust of India [PTI], Matthew Hayden reckoned that India are a modern team that can not only fight against the odds but can also script memorable triumphs in their conditions but more importantly away from home.

Team India has shown this very trait on numerous occasions in the past 3-4 years. Back in the 2016-17 home season, the Virat Kohli-led unit came back from a 333-run drubbing at the hands of Australia to script a 2-1 series win. Then in the winter of 2018, the Men in Blue bounced back from their mauling in Perth to win the next Test at the MCG, eventually winning their first Test series in Australia.

The trait has been even more evident in the ongoing Test season as they bounced back after being blown away for 36 in Adelaide to win their second consecutive Test series in Australia despite losing 7-8 first-choice players due to injury or in Virat Kohli’s case: paternity leave. Hayden’s comments have come after India once again scripted a comeback following a shock 227-run defeat in Chennai to win the next two Tests against England and take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match rubber.

“India have shown that they are a modern team who can not only fight it out but win against the odds in all conditions. This is a mark of all the great teams in history. The ability to win both at home and away,” Matthew Hayden told the Press Trust of India.

“Provided the wickets are not unfairly groomed, reducing the game to only one type of cricket, I don’t have a problem with it at all. Conditions should promote an even game,” Hayden said.

‘English batsmen should be conscious and play spin according to the conditions’- Matthew Hayden

There has been a lot of debate around the nature of pitches that have been dished out in the last two Test matches, especially the one in Ahmedabad where the Test match ended in two days.

Matthew Hayden gave his insights on the pitch saga stating that as long as the balance between bat and ball is maintained, he does not have any issues with the track.

Hayden was one of the greatest-ever overseas batsmen on turning tracks. The southpaw also went on to offer his advice to the English batsmen on how to counter the spin-friendly conditions.

“Typically, the Ahmedabad wicket is not a big turning one. I would only play the sweep shot on slow turners where it is impossible to generate enough power to play shots down the ground. English batsmen should be conscious and play spin according to the conditions,” he added.

“Cross-bat shots are dangerous if the ball is not turning, bringing in several modes of dismissal at the one time, LBW, bowled in particular,” Matthew Hayden signed off.

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