Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has strongly criticized Australia’s batting construction and training following the team’s defeat in the Boxing Day Test on the Melbourne Cricket Floor (MCG) on December 29, 2025.
Talking after Australia’s loss to England, Hayden singled out batting coach Michael Di Venuto, questioning his long-term affect on the facet’s technical growth.
Regardless of already holding an unassailable 3-1 lead within the Ashes collection, Australia suffered a surprising defeat by 4 wickets inside simply two days. The hosts had been dismissed for 152 and 132 on a seam-friendly floor.
Hayden calls Australia’s scorecard “Unacceptable”
Talking on the All Over Bar The Cricket podcast, Hayden didn’t maintain again as he dissected Australia’s batting failures. He argued that pitch circumstances had been no excuse for the technical shortcomings displayed by the highest and center order.
“That’s an unacceptable scorecard. I don’t care if it was 50 millimetres of grass. It’s good to be higher than that,” Hayden stated. He particularly named Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey and Cameron Inexperienced as gamers who appeared “at sea” in opposition to tempo bowling.
In accordance with Hayden, Australia’s bowlers seemed extra technically sound than their batters, a state of affairs he discovered deeply regarding at Take a look at stage.
Whereas stressing it was not a private assault, the previous opener questioned whether or not Di Venuto’s affect had actually benefited Australia’s Take a look at batting group.
“I’m not a fan of him. It’s not a private factor. I simply suppose that for too lengthy there was an affect on this group round batting, and I don’t really feel it’s served the event of the crew or the technical aspect of Take a look at cricket,” Hayden stated.
He additional argued that Australia’s struggles usually are not restricted to inexperienced wickets at residence but in addition lengthen to abroad circumstances, notably within the subcontinent, the place adaptability and refined method are essential.
Additionally READ: ICC pitch rating explained: MCG labelled ‘unsatisfactory’ | Ashes 2025-26
“You didn’t see Ricky Ponting batting at three”: Hayden
Hayden emphasised accountability because the lacking ingredient in Australia’s batting strategy. He contrasted the present setup with earlier generations led by figures equivalent to Ricky Ponting, suggesting senior gamers up to now wouldn’t tolerate repeated technical errors.
“You didn’t see Ricky Ponting batting at three, like Marnus Labuschagne is, throwing his wicket away. There is no such thing as a likelihood,” Hayden remarked, including that former teammates and senior gamers would have intervened.
He additionally criticized what he sees as a inflexible mindset based mostly on circumstances, arguing that gamers should adapt somewhat than default to pre-set strategies.
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