Batting legend Matthew Hayden has been so much impressed by Rishabh Pant’s extraordinary performance during the last tour of Australia by India. According to the former Australian openner, “Muscle memory and thirst for victory,” will make the wicketkeeper-batsman a key player for the Indian team that is slated to play a five-Test series in Australia later this year.
The highly anticipated Test series begins on November 22 at Perth with Pant being touted as one of the biggest assets of Indian cricket team. “Rishabh Pant and others are muscle memory players. He was such a key player last time he played there and the Australian public loved him as well, because of the nature of the way he played his game,” said Hayden on Wednesday, according to Parami via IANS while talking to Mumbai media persons outside ‘CEAT Cricket Rating Awards’.
“It was exciting. It was innovative. It’s was just fresh and good. Then you have got your old stewards, like Virat Kohli, (he) will want to make an impression again. From a batting point of view, I’m excited to see how India have that strategy to take on the Australian conditions,” added an enthusiastic Hayden.
Pant had made an incredible return to competitive action after a horrific incident almost claimed his life in 2022. The Delhi-born cricketer came back into national reckoning with incredible performances reminiscent of his heroics during India’s historic 2020-21 tour Down Under.
In that unforgettable series, Pant led from front by hitting an explosive 97 followed up by unbeaten 89 runs which brought india victory over australia in gabba. His fearless approach and ability to take on the Australian bowlers in their own backyard were instrumental in India’s success.
India managed one of most remarkable comebacks ever seen in test cricket against all odds when they were without several key players. “They” beat Australians who are ranked among the all-time greatest Test teams on their home soil and this match will forever be remembered by cricket lovers.
The visitors rebounded from the humiliation of being bowled out for 36 in the opening Adelaide Test to secure a 2-1 victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, their second consecutive series win.
Kohli returned to India following the Adelaide match for personal reasons while several other players including Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, both leading pacers were not available due to injuries and fitness issues.
“It was very much a second team bowling line-up that won at the Gabba when Virat Kohli wasn’t there. The great thing from an Indian perspective is that when you look at the last victory,” Hayden said.
“I think that’s what we can expect from this Indian side going on our shores (with) saying guys, we’ve done this before and we’ve done it in a way that’s second to none even without our key players.” He added.
Pink Tests remove Australia’s advantage of playing at home
The ex-Australian cricketer also added that once day-night Tests are planned, it reduces historical domination by Australia. In one of those games, called Pink Ball test match set for next month between two countries, who will be playing at Adelaide Oval.
“When you get into those twilight zones under lights with those overhead conditions they can be really difficult,” he added.
I would even venture to say that the Australian home advantage has been eroded quite considerably since if you get on the wrong side of a certain session, be that you are four for 130 at twilight, you can soon be eight for 150.
“There’s no opportunities to dominate a game in its entirety and really naturally,” he said.
Pat Cummins was highly praised by Hayden who observed that under him, this is the first time the Australians have been united as one team. A year ago, they won both World Test Championship and ODI World Cup matches.
“He’s got a really unique leadership style and ability. This style is rather different from former captains of Australian cricket’s stick and carrot kind of approach,” he stated.
He added: “It’s like we’re at an individual-individualism stage where his model identifies them within our team sport but not always.”
‘Australia under Cummins’ captaincy has become extremely close-knit as mentioned by Hayden himself. They have now earned the respect of ex-players like him who were initially angry with how Justin Langer left as head coach.
“I have been following this team very closely over the last two years and they are very tight group. Even those old players, when we were upset about Justin Langer being moved out, closed ranks and doubled down on their working methods,” he says.
