Former Test great Neil Harvey has joined the chorus calling for Matthew Hayden’s scalp, saying the beleaguered Australian opener is “a pain in the bum”.
Hayden compiled an atypically subdued 31 in the third Test against South Africa on Saturday – scarcely a failure yet certainly not the resounding response needed to quieten critics who say his time at the top level is up.
The 37-year-old Queenslander looked a pale imitation of the batting monster who has brutalised some of the world’s best attacks, though that could be because his place is on the line.
Hayden was at the crease for over two and a half hours, facing 78 balls before his departure left the home side, already 2-0 down in the series, in trouble at 3-109.
“He is a pain in the bum,” Harvey said at a 50th anniversary reunion of the 1958-59 Australian side that regained the Ashes.
“Hayden at 37, what I think what he should do is head on down and say, ‘I have had enough’ and quit.
“I thought he was pathetic today.
“He wasn’t trying to score runs and he had forgotten how to hit the ball, and at his age he is not going to get any better, is he?
“He has been a good player, but he hasn’t been a great player in my opinion.”
Many might disagree, considering Hayden has amassed 8,555 Test runs, at an average of over 50, and his 30 Test centuries have been surpassed by only two Australians, Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh.
But Hayden has struggled for runs since an Achilles injury sent him home from the West Indies in 2008.
In nine Tests since then – four in India, two at home against New Zealand and the current three-Test series against South Africa – he has scraped together just 344 runs at less than 23.
His five innings against Graeme Smith’s visitors have yielded just 78 runs at less than 16.
Hayden has said he will reassess his position after the current Test match.
If he was seeking answers in the middle on Saturday, however, he is likely to remain uncertain.
When he dragged a full-length ball from Dale Steyn onto his stumps after a scratchy and cautious opening session and a bit, he threw his head back in disappointment.
South Africa’s assistant coach Vinnie Barnes said his players were determined to restrict Hayden’s run-scoring.
“There were a few loose shots from him and a few unusual shots played by him,” Barnes said.
“I think at the moment Matthew is lacking confidence and obviously there is a lot of pressure on him.
“The thing about batting when your confidence is low … we put fielders in positions we felt he is looking to score (in) and just block the runs and it is working.
“His confidence is a bit low and we are making sure he is not getting any big runs.”
Hayden experienced an extended form slump in 2004-05 and, on that occasion, saved his career with a mighty 138 against England at The Oval.
But whether he can pick himself up off the floor again at the age of 37 remains open to question.
If not, his 103rd Test could be his last.
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