PERTH, Australia, 11 October 2003 — Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden bludgeoned his way into cricket history here yesterday with a world record score of 380 against Zimbabwe.
“What can I say? I am delighted — I cannot quite believe it,” the 31-year-old left-hander said after eclipsing the decade-long record of West Indian Brian Lara.
“I hope some of those involved in the Bali tragedy can take something from this,” Hayden said. “It must be a difficult time for them.”
Hundreds of Australians have gathered on the Indonesian island of Bali to remember their 88 compatriots who were among the 202 victims of the Sari nightclub bombing in the holiday resort a year ago.
Hayden took just on 10 hours to pass the previous record of 375 held by Lara. Lara set the record in St John’s, Antigua, in 1993-94 in a Test against England. Hayden set the new mark just before tea on the second day of a lop-sided first Test against a depleted Zimbabwe.
Australia declared with a first innings 735 for six wickets — their second-highest Test score and best in Australia. Zimbabwe replied with 79 for one by stumps. Trevor Gripper was unbeaten with 37 with Mark Vermeulen on nine. During his vicious assault against a restricted attack on a featherbed pitch, Hayden smashed 38 fours and 11 sixes. He said: “I am thrilled I was wearing the Baggy Green (the distinctive cap worn by Australian cricketers).”
Australian captain Steve Waugh said: “Matt’s striking of the ball was the cleanest I have ever seen. He thoroughly deserves this.”
Another tribute came from former Australian captain Mark Taylor, who shared the previous Australian record of 334 with the great Don Bradman.
“I don’t think you can diminish any innings like that,” Taylor said. “Alright, a Test match hundred against Zimbabwe is probably not as good as one against, say, the West Indies in their halcyon days of the 1980s, but to go on and make 380, to do that takes special concentration and fitness.”
“I always knew Matt Hayden had those.”
Amid the euphoria of Hayden’s record, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist’s unbeaten 113 — whipped up off only 95 balls — was almost overlooked. Hayden went past Lara’s score with a single, a straight drive off spinner Ray Price.
As the jubilant Hayden leapt in the air, the crowd of about 7,000 — which had grown appreciably as news of the impending record spread — gave him a standing ovation.
The milestone came in the final over before tea. As he left the field, Hayden was mobbed by teammates, with Justin Langer, his opening partner, having special congratulations for his close friend.
Hayden and Langer have become the most successful opening partnership in Australian Test history. At the start of the new season, they averaged 68.13 runs per stand from 24 matches together, including nine hundred-plus stands and seven more partnerships between 50 and 99.
There was only one major blemish in the Hayden innings — when on 337 he gave a chance to Gripper, at long-off, off Sean Ervine, but the catch went abegging. Gripper gained small consolation by finally dismissing Hayden after tea when he swept a delivery backward of square leg and was caught by Stuart Carlisle.
The carnage followed Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak’s decision to send Australia into bat after he won the toss.
Hayden, who had labored for 308 minutes to reach 100 — his 15th Test century — smashed the next 100 in 104 minutes, the third 100 in 117 minutes and his final 80 runs in 93 minutes.
Rameez for Restoration
of Ties With India
Pakistan Cricket Board chief executive Rameez Raja said in Islamabad that he will use a visit Bombay next month to try to promote the restoration of full cricket ties between the rival countries. Rameez is visiting Bombay to sit on the jury for the Wisden international cricket awards.
“Its a great honor for me to be on the jury and it would give me a chance to further our efforts to revive cricket ties between Pakistan and India,” Ramiz, a former Pakistani captain, said. It will be a rare Pakistani involvement in a cricket event in India.
