ion
Top gun Matthew Lawrence Hayden, a triple centurion in Test cricket, toasts players who create moments to celebrate over and over again. Modest, the burly 54-year-old is reluctant to talk about the many moments he created. With a presence which often intimidated, the left-handed Hayden amassed over 15,000 runs for Australia, including 30 Test hundreds and 10 tons in ODIs. This interview, by the way, was conducted across continents, commencing in Brisbane and concluding in Amsterdam!
For an Australian, the Ashes are still the pinnacle. But how close is a Test series versus India?
With its massive legacy, it’s hard to replace the nostalgia around the Ashes. We’re still in the Commonwealth and the Ashes are in-built into the Australia-England relationship. However, because of the commercial angle, there’s a shift in importance towards the sub-continent, in particular, India. So, instead of a three or four-match series, the upcoming (2026-27) season features five Tests in India. As both nations are superpowers in cricket any contest between them naturally has marquee status.
As a neutral, your take on the factors driving India’s rise?
Phenomenal pipeline of talent, not from the traditional gymkhanas or universities, but small cities and even smaller towns… Opportunities provided by, say, the IPL… There are idols to emulate as well… A full-fledged career is today such an exciting possibility. Indeed, this is the moment in India to be aspirational.
Challenge for India?
The number one challenge for every Test-playing nation is to strengthen the [Test] format. Fans are premium stakeholders and, while the TV audience counts big, no less so are busy turnstiles. Agreed that Test cricket must get more exposure, a wider reach, but traditional venues are a nation’s legacy and shouldn’t be ignored. Not privy to the reasons, but I’m surprised the Eden Gardens [in Kolkata] won’t be hosting Australia during the Test series. Hard to believe we last played there 25 years ago!
I suppose the 2000-01 Test series elevated the rivalry dramatically…
Most definitely. India had a balanced team and were led by a very good captain, Sourav Ganguly. We outplayed them in the first Test, but the next two were incredible spectacles, with India winning both. Grudgingly, we had to accept that India were superb.
You’ve mentioned Sourav’s captaincy. Did the Australia dressing room respect him?
Respected and admired Sourav in that epic series. His approach was nationalistic and mirrored the India at the turn of the century, hungry to succeed. I observed how Sourav listened to advice and had players eager to perform under him. The experience of Sachin Tendulkar, the class of Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman’s silken touch and Harbhajan Singh’s genius. Harbhajan made the biggest difference (32 wickets), while Dravid and Laxman plucked the heart out of Australia during their surreal 376-run partnership on Day Four at Eden. Must say Sourav was blessed…. Would the result have been any different in a five-Test series? Can’t say.
2000-01 was a career-soaring tour. Did you prepare differently for your first series in India?
I owe a lot to my mentors, the late Bobby Simpson and Allan Border, both very fine players of spin. Also to the late Bishan Bedi and Srinivas Venkataraghavan, spin bowling coaches at the MRF Academy [in Chennai] in 1994-95. Venkat and Bishan introduced me to the art of understanding spin-bowling concepts. That exposure, thanks to Cricket Australia (CA), proved the acceleration point. My learning in Chennai was put to use at Northamptonshire and, later, on the 2000-01 tour.
Is there an India bowler who made life difficult for you and your generation of Australia batsmen?
Harbhajan, he was my nemesis. Then, there were others with match-winning spells. Ajit Agarkar, for example, at the Adelaide Oval in 2003-04. Again, under Sourav.
Unlike in the decades gone by when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and CA weren’t exactly on the best of terms, both have much in common now. In fact, the Big Bash League’s season-opener, in a few months, will be at the Chepauk. Happy precedent?
Precedents get set and revenue matters. Today, franchise cricket is dominant, coinciding with the decline of the West Indies and Pakistan. If nations like Australia and India come together, common challenges get handled better.
There’s even talk of an Ashes Test in India. Blasphemous?
As a fan, I’d be disappointed, but there must be some commercial benefit for this talk to go around. Maybe, it will lead to more resources at the grassroots. Mind you, the business of sport is run very differently, where you usually judge on revenue, not profits.
India had a balanced team and were led by a very good captain... Sourav’s approach was nationalistic and hungry to succeed. I observed how Sourav listened to advice and had players eager to perform under him
You played against the Sachins and Rahuls, then as commentator, have shared thoughts on the next generation of greats — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Also, as the Gujarat Titans’ assistant coach, you’ve worked with Shubman Gill. Gill’s still young, but is there a common thread which runs through batsmen hailed as icons?
Sachin, Dravid, Rohit, Virat... Mate, all are cricket tragics, each one of them a junkie. All with an inquisitive mind too. You may say each one of them is different, but commitment is common.
Must ask you about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, just 15…
Expected this one! Vaibhav’s an amazing kid, a joy to watch. His backlift is very similar to Brian Lara’s, 100 per cent rotation. Vaibhav has a fearless mindset, reflected in his penchant for smashing the first ball for six. He’s not a big one for reputation, surely. Yes, Vaibhav does have the potential to succeed in all formats.
You wear multiple hats, including co-owner and head coach of Glasgow Cosmic in the European T20 Premier League (ETPL). It’s a mightily rich CV…
All about getting it as right as possible. Food has been a passion and I’ve featured on lifestyle channels, written culinary books. I set up a farm in 2009: kitchen garden, beehives, orchards… All in the compound of my bungalow in Brisbane. Away from that part of my life, I’ve been Mahindra’s brand ambassador in Australia and have served on the conglomerate’s Board for a decade or thereabouts. Throw in commentary, coaching, co-ownership…. The hands are full.
Last one… Kellie and you recently celebrated 30 years of marriage. As many crumble quickly, are there words of wisdom from your end?
First things first… Kellie and I drove from Nice to Paris and, with both such foodies, halted at the most suitable of places! In any partnership, there has to be respect and alignment in thinking. Not wisdom, but relationships driven by love overcome any challenge. Kellie and I often stay months apart, yet when we meet up, it seems we were always together.
