Hayden calls it a day.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24905260-952,00.html

Bugger.

Big_Bad_Bob wrote:Bugger.

Dunno, Fleas and Hattie won't have our bowlers lying awake in a cold sweat.

In related news the odds of Australia retaining the Ashes have firmed

Thanks for the memory Haydos.

Basil wrote:

Big_Bad_Bob wrote:Bugger.

Dunno, Fleas and Hattie won't have our bowlers lying awake in a cold sweat.

True. Dog Scratch is looking good just at the moment though.

Aye, Sky News says he is having a press conference at 10.30 Banjo time (11.30 for the normal Eastern States). Can't be for any other reason otherthan to say "My strutting is no longer cutting it - ooroo."

Well played Dos, and thanks for the memories.

Basil wrote:

Big_Bad_Bob wrote:Bugger.

Dunno, Fleas and Hattie won't have our bowlers lying awake in a cold sweat.

Famous last words, Bas.

KP lead infighting will take care of ingerlund before a ball is bowled in the tour opener.

Yeah, i'm with Bas - not sure if this is bad news at all.

JKLever wrote:Yeah, i'm with Bas - not sure if this is bad news at all.

Phurt, if one person could be singled out for being responsible for the loss of the Ashes in 05 (and the ball that Pidg stepped on doesn't count), it was Hayden. He waved his bat around like the mad cat lady from the Simpsons. In the first 4 Tests (before the face-saving ton at The Oval) he made just 180 runs in 8 completed innings at 22.50 with a top score of 36. By then we were 2-1 down. Much like the form he has shown over the last 9 Tests.

Huzzah!!!!

very fine cricket career

The writing's been on the wall since he was overlooked for the ODIs. Suddenly he went from someone who was confidently looking ahead, to someone considering his future.

You also wonder if the Dave Warner innings was the final nail in the coffin for him, just in terms of reminding him how the younger generation was busting the door down and that the crowds were embracing them and eager for change.

Good for him that he's technically gone out on his own terms.

Congratulations on a great career. After a stuttering early phase, he worked hard, conquered India in India and then prospered.

The way his average has been going south of late, he might have been lucky to have kept it above fifty in SA, if he kept showing disteyn for Dale's susteyned assault on him.

skully wrote:

JKLever wrote:Yeah, i'm with Bas - not sure if this is bad news at all.

Phurt, if one person could be singled out for being responsible for the loss of the Ashes in 05 (and the ball that Pidg stepped on doesn't count), it was Hayden. He waved his bat around like the mad cat lady from the Simpsons. In the first 4 Tests (before the face-saving ton at The Oval) he made just 180 runs in 8 completed innings at 22.50 with a top score of 36. By then we were 2-1 down. Much like the form he has shown over the last 9 Tests.

skully in ***convenient overlooking of the negative contributions of fleas and the kid - shocker***

As predictable as your matron forgetting to change your colostomy bag, h.

Last 9 Tests -

Hayden 383 runs at 23.93

Fleas 810 runs at 54.00

...as you were skullmeister

Big_Bad_Bob wrote:Bugger.

Aye ... bugger twice.
Was really looking forward to that straight very silly mid off position - albeit for a brief spell only for as long as
Haydoes toiled!!

A fine fine career from the Big Galoot.

He really shouldn't have returned from his injury last year and hopefully the last crappy 4 months won't tarnish his stellar record.

horace, do you have to spoil a joyous occasion by being a miserable turd?

Maybe Australia's best opener ever.

Certainly part of our most successful opening pair.

Retired a year too late but I doubt that's what people will be talking about five years from now.

Thanks, Dos.

He was a bully, but a good one at that.

Made the best attacks seem like club cricketers at times. He was relentless and bullish in his approach, which is the main reason as to why he became so successful as an opening batsman. Australia can owe a heck of a lot to Matthew Hayden.

Regardless of his angry thug like attitude towards life, he utilised it well on a cricket field and it showed through in his brutish batting strokes and also, his quality slip fielding aswell. These were well needed assets for team Aus, throughout his 13/14 year career.

He might not be missed by some, some bowlers and fans will breath a sigh of relief in the knowing that they won't have to watch Hayden rack up another century with ease, however, some will miss him. The ones that will certainly miss his form of the late 2000's will be CA themselves.

Now they have to blood in another youngster to Partner Katich for a couple more years until he retires, then...what next?

Who knows...

msg for Dello - msg to Dello -

1 pt to me on the End-of-Year Awards Quiz thingy .....

Haydo's Golden Globes are mine.

I win.

BTW, those who think that this is good for our Ashes campaign might be right, but I am not certain that the root problem (the inability of our batsmen to deal with late swing) has been solved.

Dos was not the only one who struggled in that regard. Martyn and Gilchrist had a torrid time. More to the point, so did our new senior opener, Katich: will Jaques (or whoever his partner is) be any better?

OP Tipping wrote:BTW, those who think that this is good for our Ashes campaign might be right, but I am not certain that the root problem (the inability of our batsmen to deal with late swing) has been solved.

Dos was not the only one who struggled in that regard. Martyn and Gilchrist had a torrid time. More to the point, so did our new senior opener, Katich: will Jaques (or whoever his partner is) be any better?

Late swing plays a part in every Ashes in England - yet we've only won home series in 81, 85 & 2005 in the last 30 years. It is after all, all about the quality that it is wanged down with... as things stand you have no bothers at all.

As for Hayden - he may have had a poor 2005 but he pretty much killed us this decade that series apart.