Matthew Hayden breaks another Australian record

[Nostromo]

Originally Posted by Quagmire

Obviously you have something against Hayden, because he is a better opening batsman. Cook has only played like 15 test and averages just over 40 and has not yet proven himself.

I have to agree too. Cook an 'exemplary' opener? He has hardly established himself on the international arena. Sure, he has some good innings, but the way he kept getting out in the latter part of the Ashes series showed that bowlers were beginning to exploit his weaknesses. Somehow, I cannot see Alistair Cook going down in history as anything other than a moderately good opening batsman in the Atherton mould.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Quagmire

Obviously you have something against Hayden [...] Hayden is the number 1 opening batsman in the world.

Fair: I consider HAyden a fortunte version of Hick... but were I to be given sole charge of selection I would be forced to consider him (against my better judgement)... but he'd be in the second World XI as there is no way on earth I could leave out the following:

1. Dravid
2. Hussey
3. Ponting
4. Lara
5. Yousuf
6. Kallis

Omitting Inzi and Jayawardene seems bizarre enough (and that's aside from the thorny Tendulkar issue): to leave another one out from that top six would surely be crazy!

ps. I'd agree that Cook is young, lacks experience against spin and is unlikely to ever become a wristy touch player.... but he seems to have it in him (not least technically and mentally) to be the best opener since Richardson and Kirsten retired.

[Nostromo]

I agree that Alistair Cook is something like Gary Kirsten. Throughout his distinguished service for South Africa, Kirsten remained a very good opening batsman without ever breaking into the select band. His success was based on patience, concentration, technique and intensity of application, all of which made up to a large extent to somewhat restricted imagination or natural talent. Cook seems to have all the attributes of Kirsten and I accept that he will be a successful opener for England, but he'll never end up a Hobbs, Hutton......or Hayden for that matter .

[Quagmire]

Well concidering Hussey and Dravid are not test opening batsman I think I would be very disappointed if they were the best two opening batsman in test cricket, if they suited that spot I think that they would be opening for there test sides. It would make no sense to but them in those positions.

Dravid's averages at each batting position

Opening - 13 innings, 2 no, 0x50, 2x100, Hs 128*, 369 runs at 33.55
No. 3 - 132 innings, 15 no, 34x50, 17x100, Hs 270, 6943 runs at 59.34
No. 4 - 17 innings, 2 no, 6x50, 2x100, Hs 146, 901 runs at 60.07
No. 5 - 8 innings, 1 no, 1x50, 1x100, Hs 144*, 269 runs at 38.43
No. 6 - 8 innings, 2 no, 2x50, 1x100, Hs 180, 413 runs at 68.83
No. 7 - 4 innings, 0 no, 3x50, 0x100, Hs 95, 279 runs at 69.75

Hussey's averages at each batting position

Opening - 7 innings, 1 no, 1x50, 1x100, Hs 137, 347 runs at 57.83
No. 3 - N/A
No. 4 - 4 innings, 2 no, 2x50, 1x100, Hs 103, 275 runs at 137.50
No. 5 - 14 innings, 3 no, 4x50, 3x100, Hs 182, 917 runs at 83.36
No. 6 - 1 innings, 0 no, 1x50, 0x100, Hs 58, 58 runs at 58.00

Hussey is a number 5 batsman and Dravid is a number 3 batsman.

Oh yes a fortunate hick? His 21 more hundreds must have all been flukes. Along with his batting average being luckely 20 runs per innings more than Hick. That sounds sort of silly to me but each to there own opinions.

Top 10 Highest averaging current cricketers in the world. (min 25 innings)

1. Hussey 79.85 (AUS)
2. Ponting 59.29 (AUS)
3. Dravid 57.34 (IND)
4. Yousuf 56.01 (PAK)
5. Kallis 55.10 (SAF)
6. Tendulkar 54.71 (IND)
7. Hayden 53.01 (AUS)
8. Lara 52.89 (WIN)
9. Sangakkara 50.64 (SRI)
10. Ul-Haq 50.64 (PAK)

I Think he is in some good company somewhere between Lara and Tendulkar isnt bad I personally dont think that Cook will ever be in the same league as these gentlemen

[Quagmire]

I have actually found something very interesting, well interesting to me.

Most centuries list.

1. Tendulkar 35
2. Gavaskar 34
3. Lara 34
4. Ponting 33
5. Steve Waugh 32
6. Bradman 29
7. Hayden 27
8. Border 27
9. Sobers 26
10. Ul-Haq 25

People say that Hayden is only good against poor teams.
5 vs Eng
6 vs Saf
5 vs Win
1 vs NZ
3 vs Ind
1 vs Pak
3 vs Sri
2 vs Zim
0 vs Ban
1 vs ICC World XI

[Quagmire]

He just broke another two records against South Africa, quickest ODI century by an Australian and the quickest ever world cup century.

[Younis Khan #1]

Hayden is great to watch. Love him! Not in a gay way...

[Quagmire]

Another ODI record by Hayden, he made the highest score by an Australian in a world cup match with his 158 runs off 143 ball.

[Quagmire]

Another record has been broken and that record is the quickest ever batsman to get to 1000 runs in ODI's in a year (in days), in matches David Gower still holds the record in matches where Hayden has reached it is 18 matches and Gower's record is 17 matches. So he is easily the quickest by an Australian in matches. He is currently on track to beat Tendulkars record of the most runs in a year by an ODI batsman, which stands at 1894 runs, but would have to keep up the sort of form he is currently in and that would be very difficult.
Hayden is currently at 1001 at 66.73 from 18 matches, 4x100 & hs 181*

Most runs in an ODI year
Tendulkar 1894 from 34 matches
Ganguly 1767 from 41 matches
Tendulkar 1611 from 32 matches
Saeed Anwar 1595 from 36 matches
Ganguly 1579 from 32 matches
Mark Waugh 1468 from 36 matches

[MildRoastNesCafe]

What, no reply? Must be getting harder and harder to refute Haydens greatness.