Matthew Hayden turns 48: Aussie opener's top 3 Test innings vs India

Former Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden turned 48 on Tuesday He is arguably one of the most destructive openers ever to have played Test cricket. Hayden was a part of the Australian team which dominated the 2000's in international cricket. Let us have a look at his top 3 memorable knocks against India in Tests.

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Hayden's top 3 knocks in Tests vs India:

3. 119 vs India at Mumbai, 2001

Hayden had donned the white Australian jersey only 13 times in the first 7 years of his career. The 2001 tour to India was a very crucial part for his career. He scored 119 in the first Test match and this innings was special as Hayden showed the world what he was capable of. His innings was important as it came at a time when the top order was sent back to the pavilion with the scoreboard reading 99 for 5. Along with Adam Gilchrist, who scored 122, Hayden set up a win for his team. The opening slot was vacant before this match and with this innings, Hayden grabbed the spot for almost for a decade.

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2. 103 vs India at Adelaide, 2008

This Test Series between the two sides is often remembered for the wrong reasons. Pathetic umpiring and the ‘Monkeygate’ incident are the key incidents that come to mind when one mentions this 4-match Test series. Hayden was in red hot form in the series. His scores read 124, 47, 13 and 123 in the first two games. Australia faced a humiliating loss at Perth where he was out of the team with an injury. Hayden brought up another hundred at Adelaide in the last game where he had to bat under immense pressure, as the Indians had posted a massive 526 batting first. Hayden along with skipper Ponting made sure India didn't level the series. This innings of 103 was his 30th and last Test century which took him past Sir Donald Bradman’s tally of 29 tons.

1. 203 vs India at Chennai, 2001

This was arguably one of the best knocks ever played by an Aussie in the Indian sub-continent. The Indians were in control of the game after producing one of the most incredible comebacks of all time at Eden Gardens in the second Test and the Australians were on the back foot, having been bamboozled by enigmatic spinner Harbhajan Singh. But Hayden stood tall under pressure, sweeping and lofting the Indian attack around the ground to bring up his maiden double hundred.

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