Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 – Matthew Hayden – Run will be the ‘point of difference’

Regarding the nature of the pitches at the five venues – Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney – Hayden said alongside CEAT’s cricket rating awards that “there are three [Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne] in five there are wickets out”.

“One day-night Test match [in Adelaide] – the second Test match,” he said. “And, once you get those top conditions under that ground, it can be really tough. [to bat on]. I would even go so far as to say that the home advantage in Australia is taken too much, on the basis that if you get the wrong side of a particular session, be that you are 4 years out of 130, in your twilight. it would be 8 out of 150.

“So there’s no chance of dominating the game naturally. It’s all the time, so it’s a very different type of cricket, because you don’t have those traditional areas.”

“You look at the line-ups, and it’s hard to tell who has the upper hand,” Hayden said. “I feel like it’s going to be the runs that are going to be the point of difference. So the best need to get up in this series; the runs are going to come first. And I feel like the structure of the tournament from west to east is a different way for Australian cricket to play and it’s going to be a good summer.

“I am sure that those two players, who are now entering the final stages of their cricket career, will be very eager to dominate in the summer,” said Hayden. “That’s their nature: they do it in very different ways, [and] very different styles, but they are definitely the keys to the Australian summer. “

“His strokeplay is very good. His ability, especially, to hit high through the covers is amazing. [But] that will be your weakness. I’m looking forward to seeing how you prepare beautiful songs”

Matthew Hayden on Yashasvi Jaiswal

“I think he’s the package,” Hayden said of Jaiswal. “Yes, his stroke is very good. His ability, especially, to hit high through the covers is amazing. [But] that will also be your vulnerability. I’m looking forward to seeing how you fix the hot tracks. We have noticed a few times in the IPL that he is a top scorer – [with the] pull the trigger especially.

“But that’s going to be challenged by three world-class pacers, assuming they’re all fit, and for very big reasons – reasons where it’s got to be very good contact for that ball to go over six times. You can get caught easily, three-quarters of the way to the fence.