Matthew Hayden - Stats Analysis (Tests)

The Lone Ranger

A strike rate of more than 60 sums up Hayden's attacking game very well. But aggregates can be misleading, for the most important aspect of batsmanship in Tests is how to pace/shape-up an innings and strike rates are a snapshot of its culmination.

I would suggest the users watch his hundreds (available aplenty on youtube) and watch how Hayden constructed a century. Unless the pitch was an absolute belter, Hayden would get his head down and graft for the first fifty runs or so and accelerate only later in the innings. Its a shame that such granular data is not readily available on the web for it can provide deeper insights into a batsman's style and impact

An interesting little finding from Hayden's career is his ability to bat when others around him do not find the going easy. Amongst Australian batsman, he is one of only 2 players (along with Victor Trumper) who has scored two 150+ innings in a losing cause (203 vs India at Chennai (2001) & 177 vs West Indies at Antigua in (2003)).

150+ scores for Australia in a losing cause

While it seems like a pretty long list, but fancy this one fact: 28 out of the 93 scores of 150+ scored in a losing cause have come against Australia showing just how dominant they have been in the game's longest format.

P.S. Taking all countries into account, it is Brian Lara (8) who has the most 150+ innings in a losing cause.