Hayden Criticizes Australia’s Missed Opportunity
Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has raised concerns over Pat Cummins’ decision-making during the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane. Hayden questioned Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald’s choice to continue batting on the third morning rather than declaring earlier, despite looming rain delays that reduced the match to a four-day contest.
Australia resumed Day 3 at 405/7 and extended their innings to 445, with Travis Head (152) and Steve Smith (101) providing a strong foundation. However, Cummins’ reluctance to declare on Day 2 or early on Day 3, coupled with poor weather forecasts, led Hayden to believe the decision could work in India’s favor.
Playing Into India’s Hands?
Speaking on Channel 7, Hayden called the Australian approach “conservative,” suggesting it gave India a potential advantage. India only needs a draw to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and a drawn match would keep their World Test Championship (WTC) final hopes alive.
“Playing with the weather is like playing with fire,” Hayden remarked. “Australia should focus solely on winning the Test. By delaying the declaration, it feels like they’ve played into India’s hands. With bad weather looming, Australia has less time to bowl India out twice, which works to the visitors’ advantage.”
Hayden also linked the decision to a broader pattern of cautious captaincy in modern Australian cricket, contrasting it with the aggressive approach seen during Steve Waugh’s era. “This isn’t about a lack of confidence. Australia are world champions and a dominant side, but sometimes, their conservatism can backfire.”
India’s Early Struggles
Despite the rain disruptions, Australia’s pacers capitalized on the overcast conditions to put India on the back foot. Mitchell Starc removed Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill early, while Josh Hazlewood dismissed Virat Kohli, leaving India reeling at 22/3.
With rain expected to interrupt play over the next two days, Australia’s ability to force a result could hinge on taking quick wickets and enforcing the follow-on, a strategy Hayden implied they should have embraced earlier.
Looking Ahead
As the Brisbane Test progresses, Australia’s conservative tactics may face further scrutiny, especially if rain prevents them from taking the 20 wickets needed for victory. For India, the priority remains to weather the storm—both literal and figurative—and secure the draw needed to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and stay in the WTC final race.
