St John`s (Antigua), March 29: Matthew Hayden knows better than most that is not easy to play for Australia – and the record-breaking opening batsman wouldn`t have it any other way.
The 35-year-old left-hander achieved the highest score by an Australian at the World Cup in making 158 against the West Indies as the reigning champions began the Super Eight stage of the tournament with a thumping 103-run win over the hosts in a match split over two days because of rain.
Early in his career, Hayden had to battle past the likes of Matthew Elliott and Michael Slater for a Test spot and, more recently, he was dropped from the one-day side for the best part of a year after the 2005 tour of England with Phil Jaques, Shane Watson and Simon Katich all given a run instead.
But he forced his way back in and last month scored an Australian one-day record 181 not out against New Zealand in Hamilton - a match where his toe was broken by fast bowler Mark Gillespie.
"I`ve had a lot of commitment and passion, to get back into the one-day side," said Hayden, whose innings topped Queensland pal Andrew Symonds`s previous Australian tournament best of 143 not out against Pakistan in Johannesburg four years ago.
"In particular, to represent Australia at the World Cup is an enormous privilege and honour," Hayden added. "It`s a special side to be a part of - and it`s never meant to be an easy thing to play for Australia."
"There are guys who aren`t here right now - and one or two who are with us - who deserve the right to be playing. That`s the way the Australia cricket team keeps its edge and its intensity.
"I`m sure someone like Brad Hodge has a brilliant career ahead of him but he just can`t get in right now. "You have to be very determined to go out there and prove to the side and the people that you are good enough to play," said the hard-hitting Hayden in Australia`s preceding victory over South Africa.
"I said when I got dropped a couple of years back that I didn`t feel I was ready to let the (one-day) game go – that world-class players play both forms of the game. I`m just very happy that it`s coming off right now."
Bureau Report
