Matty Hayden retires

There's about 10-12 batsman I'd pay just to watch them in the modern game, and he is definitely one of them.
This guy is a beast in the one day and test form of the game - known for his brute strength, and never-need-to-time-a-ball attitude he could send a shiver down the spine of the quickest opening speed merchants in the game.
I remember watching his record breaking 380 odd (only to be retaken by Lara), there's no denying his weakness in going ott at times, but when he had his eye in, it seemed almost impossible getting him out. The other one that comes to mind is when single handedly destroyed Harbajan Singh in 01 - I mean - it was 3 test matches but he murdered him in every innings. Possibly the best runs scored on average between 1 batsman v 1 bowler?
Over 100 test matchs and a batting average of just over 50 - yes, 100+ matches as a specialist opener (as the aussies like to remind us), and an average above 50 - in fact thats better than the great viv richards and dennis compton. He scored more runs than Bradman, Border and Sobers.
The partnership between him and Gilchrist for the one day side is the greatest ever opening partnership for any one day side - the aussies rarely needed a middle order when these 2 opened up - the pace at which they got runs, they took ODI's to it's new level.
His test partnerships with Slater and Langer were something to behold as well - an Alpha Male - thats what he called himself,lol
A poor run of form to end his career, but that will be forgotten in an instant - he was an unapologetic batting brute. In the same era as Lara and Tendulkar - his attitude was - you can show us the silky side, I'm going to do it my way. And what a way it was.
Though - another aussie bites the dust so to speak - as bad as we are, we will be facing an inexperienced Aussie come the summer

First came to my notice when I read Christopher Martin Jenkings write about the new damaging Hampshire batsman they had got from down under.

He sure was just that.

Suprized about the timing of this - would have thought the Ashes would have been perfect way to bow out.

Maybe he has doubts on who will win this coming summer & does not want to end his career on that note.

Good player

He was struggling to hold down his place in the side - out of the ODI team and really only in the test side because Phil Jaques is injured.
Pressure was on him to get some big scores and his recent form is very poor.
No worries though - 2 left haders to open - someone call Freddy.