Top 5 innovative measures used by batsmen

#3 When Mathew Hayden played with a Mongoose bat

Mathew Hayden using the Mongoose bat during the 2010 IPL

Mathew Hayden first launched the Mongoose bat in an IPL match in 2010 between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils. He had always wielded the bat like a club but this was something very different which wasn’t seen in professional cricket before. With a big handle and a small blade, the mongoose bat looked silly on his bare hands.

In fact, at first, it just didn’t look right. It was assumed that he would definitely mistime one or would fail to reach out to a spinner. There was also a possibility of a run out while putting in a dive but neither of this happened.

The first shot that Hayden played with the mongoose bat was a let down as he went for a wild heave and got a lucky single on the leg side. The general consensus was that you can’t time a cricket ball at pace with that toothpick but what transpired next left everyone bemused. He smashed Rajat Bhatia all-round the park and the bowler was left scratching his head.

Tillekeratne Dilshan came in for the next over and there was no respite for him either. He struck 3 sixes in that over to dismiss any doubts regarding the essentiality of the mongoose bat.

The Mongoose bat didn’t restrict Hayden in any way what so ever. Moreover, with the long handle, he kept smashing the ball longer and further. It was the perfect remedy for the Aussie to return back to form and help Chennai canter home. Hayden kept on using the Mongoose bat time and again during the tournament but apart from Hayden no one has tried using this willow in professional cricket.