The Ashes 2013: Most memorable innings

Matthew Hayden tonked the English bowlers at Gabba, Brisbane.

14) Hayden’s blitzkrieg floors England at Gabba in 2002/’03 -

Going into the first Test at Gabba in 02/’03, Nasser Hussain‘s conundrum was whether he should bowl first or not, in case of him winning the toss.

In what would turn out to be one of the costliest decisions ever taken by a captain, England captain, Hussain, opted to bowl first on a proverbial belter of a wicket. The costly decision resulted in Hayden and Ponting ruthlessly plundering English bowlers into submission.

Hayden’s 197 at Gabba can only be described as the most violent and brutal innings one could ever see. It didn’t matter whether the bowler’s name was Caddick, Hoggard or someone else, as he repeatedly came down the wicket to tonk 85mph deliveries down the ground.

England’s fielders didn’t help their cause by dropping sitters of Hayden. To make it a dismal day for Hussain, and his band of boys, the only bowler who looked like a threat, Simon Jones ruptured his knee, while fielding.

The unstoppable Hayden went onto make another century in the second innings of that Test. He was particularly severe on England’s spearhead, Caddick, as he clobbered him to all corners of the ground.

Actually, Caddick must have been a happy man that none of those bazooka-like lofted shots down the ground didn’t smash his head. As for Nasser Hussain, even now, he must be having nightmares of that cruel first day at Gabba when he opted to bowl first.