Matthew Hayden, one of the undoubted greats of Australian cricket and indeed of the game announced his retirement from International cricket today. We at Cricket360 salute one of the stalwarts of international cricket while pondering the fact that this not perhaps the best of exits for someone of Hayden’s stature. A performer such as he deserved a far less ignominious exit from international cricket.

With the exception of Ricky Ponting, Hayden was perhaps the last of the old guard, the formidable components of the Aussie team such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, etc. who contributed to make the Australian team the unbeatable unit that they had been for so long. On the occasion of his retirements, McGrath said of Hayden that "It's been an absolute honour and a privilege to play with him and even more so to call him a mate. And to me Matt is a legend of the game. He's got nothing left to prove. His career stands alone. He's an amazing person and an amazing player.”

Tributes and accolades for Hayden as a player and his contribution to cricket as a whole are pouring in, with Ricky Ponting as well as his fellow opening batsmen Justin Langer hailing him as the best ever opening batsman of Australia. "I don't think there's any doubt about that (he is

Australia's greatest opener). You can even look back through the history books of the game and try and see if there's ever been a better opening batsman in the game, let alone Australia," Ponting said. Langer also is of a similar opinion, saying that "He's the best opener we've produced statistically and for his influence on the game," qualifying that however with a statement that Hayden made the right decision to quit the game.

Hayden, 37, after a career spanning 15 years, was dropped from Australia’s Twenty20 and one-day squads. Hayden failed to pass 50 in five home Test matches, averaging just 19.56 in the 2-1 series defeat to South Africa, which perhaps hastened his decision to call it a day. In recent times Hayden was a shadow of his former aggressive and indomitable self, and so perhaps is only honourable that he should retire right now.

As for Hayden’s future, he plans to work on finding indigenous cricketers for the national team and his place in the IPL team Chennai Super Kings will also perhaps ensure that the lion may yet roar. We at Cricket360.com hope that there are still some fireworks in store for us from one of the greats of Australian Cricket.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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