Australia drop Hayden for one-day series
Opener Matthew Hayden has enjoyed a stellar career for Australia in limited-overs cricket
Also In The News
|
England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen and head coach Peter Moores have left their posts after their ongoing dispute came to a head at an emergency ECB meeting earlier this week. |  |
Thursday, 08, Jan 2009 01:39
Opening batsman Matthew Hayden has been overlooked by the Australian selectors for the upcoming Twenty20 and one-day internationals against South Africa.
Following his poor form for the Test side recently, the exclusion of the 37-year-old does not come as a great surprise and could signal the beginning of the end of his international career.
However, chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch rejected suggestions Hayden may not be able to return to the team after such a setback.
“The omission of Matthew Hayden from the Twenty20 and Commonwealth Bank Series squads is not a reflection on his performances in the recent Test series but rather a strategic decision made by the national selection panel as we plan for these signature events," he said.
"His possible selection for the upcoming tour of South Africa will be discussed as with all players when we select a squad after the round of interstate matches at the beginning of February."
Hilditch admitted it was a tough decision to leave Hayden out but said the decision to effectively end his limited-overs career would have been made regardless of his Test form as Australia look to the future.
"This would have been the decision whatever Matthew Hayden was doing in Test cricket," the selector continued.
"It's obviously unfortunate for him but as far as Matthew's concerned we thought that the time was right to move on in Twenty20 cricket and in one-day cricket it's our view that he wasn't going to get to the 2011 World Cup."
Full Australia Twenty20 squad:
R. Ponting (captain)
M. Hussey (vice-captain)
D. Hussey
B. Hilfenhaus
J. Hopes
N. Bracken
B. Haddin
S. Marsh
S. Tait
D. Warner
R. Harris
C. White
N. Hauritz
Full ODI series squad:
R. Ponting (captain)
M. Clarke (vice-captain)
B. Haddin
J. Hopes
N. Bracken
S. Marsh
M. Hussey
D. Hussey
N. Hauritz
B. Hilfenhaus
C. White
S. Tait
P. Siddle