Matt Hayden denies the existence of form

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Matt Hayden is at it again, speaking to the media about his form, the Ashes and the industrial relations policies of Australian cricket. Honestly, this guy talks to the media so often, you'd think he's releasing a new series of cook books (who knows, maybe he is). His latest interview features the usual stream of cricket psycho-babble. When this guy retires, he'll certainly have no trouble getting a job as a sports psychologist. One excerpt:

The 34-year-old takes the view that professional cricketers are tradespeople undertaking specialist work. And he wonders aloud whether other employees who put in a couple of sub-par weeks at the workplace would suddenly have their previous contributions forgotten amid pressure for their careers to be terminated.

It's thoughts like this that make me think perhaps John Howard's new industrial relations laws are a good thing - if Matt Hayden gets dropped, you get the impression he'll sue Cricket Australia for unfair dismissal. One direct quote from Hayden:

"And form is a myth, it's dealing with information gathered in hindsight. You just don't lose talent."

I'm still trying to figure out what the hell he's talking about. "Information gathered in hindsight"? What the?! Another quote:

"I'm not going to change anything in particular with my game. Maybe I've been able to tweak my thinking a bit.

It's the phrase 'tweak my thinking' that's a bit rich. In the first four Ashes Tests, he was swinging his bat around like a windmill in a typhoon - Geraint Jones and the slips cordon would put on a sweater whenever Hayden came on strike. Come the fifth Test, he suddenly realised that firstly, maybe the bowlers should be treated with respect and secondly, he was on the verge of being dropped. His change in his batting wasn't a minor 'tweaking', it was a radically different approach (and a better one). Then once he hit 150 and his career was safe for at least one more series, his work was done. I've never seen an Australian batsman congratulate the opposition with a 'well bowled' after being dismissed like Hayden did with Flintoff. There's such a thing as too much sportsmanship. I can't imagine Allan Border ever telling an Englishman "well bowled". I can imagine him saying something that would get him a match fine and a suspension but definitely not a "well bowled"!

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Posted by JC on Thu 3 Nov

15 comments

Well I 'reckon he's a nutter. Consider this: his nickname is 'rev', broken glass at Lord's, cook books on AM tv, did great for Qld. & flunked for Aus., did great for Qld again and now flunking for Aus. again. He loves to woo the media and is a monumental striker of the ball on his day... but they're becoming few and far between.
If I (as a 'tradesman') had to ever stop and reconsider my whole output and daily product, I wouldn't be much of a tradesman. As a tradesman I can learn better ways of doing things but never would I have gained my status if any of my skills were flawed. Sportsmen, of course, aren't anything of the sort and as soon as people like John Buchanan are outted for suggesting this type of thing, the better. Sportsmen are free spirits - people who can't do the mundane jobs, the ordinary stuff. They should be patriotic entertainers, not comparing themselves to plumbers. Look, I think MH is a superb batsman. He just needs to keep his mental side of things in check, stop crapping on to all and sundry and avoid drawing paralells as excused for bad form. This stuff never enters the head of natural talents like Warne and Ponting - even if they have a horror run. 'Mat The Bat' is teetering on the verge of becoming another Bob Massey of sorts - a couple of brilliant statistics in an otherwise ordinary career.

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Posted by Virtualgaz on 2005-11-04 00:23:28

Talking in tongues Matty! I think everyone is entitled to their opinion. It is just some peoples opinions evolve more from their arse than their head! Matty is nearing the time they call in cricket as the 'great big holiday' or as others would call it 'death'. God is about to call him to the great commentary box in the sky and Matty has finally discovered he is mortal. Yes, he had a few near death experiences when he first came on the scene but since then life has been good. Starving third world bowlers, pre Marsh Englishmen and West Indinians lacking in length where it counts.
Take it easy on the guy, he is about to buy the big one and just hasn't learnt to accept it yet.

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Posted by Mark on 2005-11-14 15:15:22

I just read your profile and I was shocked. How could a Queenslander turn on another Queenslander! This is unheard of. Are you telling me you also supported the decision not to give Heals the farewell test in Brissie? What is the world coming too? Next you will tell me there are not enough NSWelshmen in the Aussie Team. Did you move up there? That would explain it.

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