Former Australian opener-turned-commentator Matthew Hayden slammed Australia’s batting collapse in the Melbourne Ashes Test. The collapse resulted in the match ending inside two days, with England winning by four wickets, their first Test victory in Australia in 14 years.
Speaking on the All Over Bar The Cricket podcast, Hayden made his frustration clear. “That’s an unacceptable scorecard. I don’t care if it was 50 millimetres of grass. You need to be better than that,” Hayden said.
He also questioned the technical standards of Australia’s top and middle order. “Head, Weatherald, Labuschagne, Khawaja, Carey, Green; they’re all at sea with their basic techniques. The only technical thing I see is coming from our bowlers, who look more technically sound than our batters. Why is that?” Hayden asked.
Hayden also called out batting coach, Di Venuto, saying, “I’mnot a fan of him. It’s not a personal thing. I just think for too long there has been an influence in this group around batting, and I don’t feel it’s served the development of the team or the technical element of Test cricket.”
He further highlighted the need for accountability, especially in challenging conditions.
“At some point, you have to take accountability. That’s the piece I really struggle with the most… You didn’t see Ricky Ponting batting at three, like Marnus Labuschagne is, throwing his wicket away. There is no fricken chance because … you would have your teammates and your former generation of players saying, ‘Bud, this is not the way we play cricket.”
Despite the loss, Australia still lead the Ashes 3-1, with the final Test scheduled to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 4.
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