Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden believes the Pat Cummins-led team will miss the services of David Warner in the upcoming 2024-25 Border Gavaskar trophy. Warner retired from Test cricket after playing his final match against Pakistan and since then Steve Smith has been opening the innings.
The left-hander amassed 8786 runs in 112 Test matches at an average of 44.59 and scored his runs at an impressive strike rate of 70.19. However, Warner didn’t have a great record while playing against India as he scored 1218 runs in 21 Test matches at an average of 31.23.
The southpaw had great numbers while playing in the known Australian conditions, scoring 5428 runs in 57 Test matches at an average of 57.85.
Matthew Hayden said while talking to reports during Ceat Rating awards in Mumbai, “For the first time, it doesn’t feel as secure. David Warner gave a great service to Australian cricket. He was extremely competitive, wonderfully dynamic. He really took that legacy that I’d created through the 2000s. His strike rates in excess of 80 (70.19) gave great momentum to the top order which, otherwise, is quite conservative. So I think he’s an enormous loss in terms of how do you replace them.”
After Warner’s retirement, Smith has opened the innings for Australia in four Test matches, which didn’t impress Hayden.
“You know the role of an opening batsman compared to a middle order batsman is very different. It didn’t take long to discover that [in New Zealand earlier in the year when Smith as an opener was not exactly a success]. I said at the time that I didn’t like the change. I think it’s crazy to think that you have the world’s best-in-class batter in a certain position. And then you change to a completely different position,” Hayden stated.
Hayden, who was known for his aggressive approach at the top of the order, feels it is going to be an unbelievable series between two cricketing powerhouses.
“It’s going to be an unbelievable series and actually not without great minds coming together. It is even more special by extending it to five Test matches. In three Test matches you always feel half pregnant; in four Test matches there’s always that swinging boat whereas in five Test matches, you got a chance to win. You also get a chance to lose and then you get a chance to come back and win. I love it. It’s going to be a great series,” said Hayden.
The opening Test match between India and Australia will be played at Perth from November 22 onwards.
