Virat Kohli, a pillar of Indian batting, and Australia’s Steve Smith are both eager to leave their mark in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series. Australian legend Matthew Hayden believes that runs will be “in high demand” in this much-anticipated contest.
Hayden, who was a top-class opener during his playing career, is confident that Kohli and Smith, each with their distinctive styles, will play pivotal roles in shaping the series’ outcome in Australia.
“Cricket is all about momentum, and I’m sure these two players, who are now in the later stages of their careers, will be determined to make a significant impact this summer,” Hayden said, as reported by PTI during the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards on Wednesday. “It’s in their nature. They both have unique ways of dominating the game, and without a doubt, they are the key players for this Australian summer,” he added.
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India and Australia are set to clash in a five-Test series, the first of its kind between the two nations since the 1991-92 season. The first match is set to begin on November 22 in Perth. According to Hayden, predicting the series’ outcome is difficult, as both teams appear evenly matched.
“When you look at the lineups, it’s tough to pinpoint who has the upper hand. I have a feeling that the difference will come down to the runs scored. Some reliable players, like (Cheteshwar) Pujara, who was a safe bet in Australian conditions, have retired,” Hayden remarked. “Was he exciting? No. Was he effective? Absolutely. Over the years, players like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman were sure bets in our conditions. The best players need to step up in this series because runs will be hard to come by,” he said.
Hayden also mentioned that Australian players are eager to end their winless streak against India, with their last series victory coming in 2014-15.
“We haven’t had the trophy in our hands for the last two series in Australia, which is considered sacred ground for us. This situation is reminiscent of the Steve Waugh era in 2001 when Australia was desperate to win here,” he said. “And even that great era couldn’t do it. There’s always a fantastic opportunity when the No. 1 and No. 2 sides in the World Test Championship face off, especially when they’re playing abroad in each other’s territories. It’s about proving who’s the best, not just at home, but also away,” he said.
Nathan Lyon vs Yashasvi Jaiswal
As Nathan Lyon prepares to challenge the emerging Yashasvi Jaiswal, Hayden commented that this is a strategic move, as Jaiswal is becoming a crucial player for Indian cricket.
“It’s exciting that the series is shaping up like a heavyweight bout, with someone like the GOAT (Lyon) targeting Jaiswal, who I believe is one of India’s key assets. He’s definitely proving to be that,” Hayden said. He acknowledged that while Jaiswal’s cover drives are exceptional, he will need to adjust to the longer boundaries in Australia.
“Young Jaiswal is a thrilling prospect, and I’m curious to see how he’ll perform. He’s a complete package, especially with his ability to hit through the covers. But that also has its risks,” Hayden noted. “I’m looking forward to seeing how he adapts to the bouncy tracks. We noticed in the IPL that he’s a powerful hitter, especially with pull shots, but that will be tested by three world-class fast bowlers, assuming they’re all fit, on much bigger grounds. The ball needs to be perfectly struck to clear the boundary, or it could easily be caught,” he explained.
‘Australia Will Miss Warner’
Hayden also noted that Australia would miss David Warner, who announced his retirement from international cricket in July.
“For the first time, the opening slot doesn’t feel as secure. David Warner provided a tremendous service to Australian cricket. His contributions were highly competitive and wonderfully dynamic,” he said. “He elevated the legacy I had built in the 2000s to a new level, with strike rates exceeding 80, giving great momentum to the top order, which otherwise tends to be conservative. Replacing him is a huge challenge,” Hayden added.
He also expressed doubts about Steve Smith moving to the opener’s position. Although Smith has spent most of his career batting at No. 4, he was moved to the opening slot after Warner’s retirement from Test cricket.
“I’ve been on record saying that I don’t like such changes. It’s crazy to take the world’s best batter in a particular position and then move him to a completely different one,” Hayden said.
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