Hayden recalls 'perfect innings'

Record ... Matthew Hayden pulls against Zimbabwe in 2003. Source: News Limited

MATTHEW Hayden recalls it as the most perfect innings he has ever played — yet it was almost the world record that never was.

It's 10 years since a sweat-stained Hayden completed a 10 hour, 22 minute batting extravaganza against Zimbabwe at the WACA that netted what was then the highest score in Test history, 380.

Celebrate ... Matthew Hayden enjoys a glass of champagne. Source: News Limited

He started it at 10am on the first morning and by the time he was dismissed at 3.04pm the following day Hayden ensured he would be a fresh entry in that year's Guinness Book of Records with a quirky bunch of Australians including a man who donated more blood (480 litres) than anyone else in the world and a group of lawn bowlers in Ballina who, in whites and then pyjamas, played the world's longest game (56 hours).

But Hayden's epic performance, nourished by a week of nightly pumpkin soup room service meals which just kept hitting the spot, almost didn't happen.

"It was line-ball whether I was going to play due to a back injury. It was amazing," said Hayden, who still treasures a photo of himself sitting in the dressing room after the innings, cradling a glass of champagne in baggy green and thongs, looking down at his gear.

"I had an extended period of time on Stradbroke Island before that innings and I felt like Guy Leech rather than Matthew Hayden when I landed in Perth. I was doing iron man training every day.

"When I went to Perth I was playing catch up with my cricket skills and I suffered a back injury because I was hitting so many balls.

"It was one of those innings that I felt almost perfect execution of any type of stroke play. There was nothing in particular that went wrong for almost 11 hours which was rare. I just felt I was mastering every second of my time."

The innings was so long WACA scorer Charlie Bull used all of Hayden's space in the time-honoured green cricket score books and then had to use the 12th man column to record the last third of his innings.

Zimbabwe may have been one of Test cricket's weakest attacks but the anniversary of Hayden's milestone is a poignant moment for Australian cricket because it spotlights the type of marathon batting performance that, Michael Clarke apart, seems beyond the modern generation.

Long innings came naturally to Hayden because long before he was a dasher his game was built on patience and defiance. These days players are bashers before they are blockers.

"I was always a guy who used to bat a long time and take a long time to score my runs. I can remember my uncle Pat saying, 'mate, any danger of you playing a shot ... you are a massive bloke, just go out and smash it.'

"The guys today have natural instincts which focus on hitting the ball. I struggled with that as well at the back end of my career after playing lots of T20 and one-day cricket. I wanted that adrenalin rush and to be entertaining people. I found it much harder to bat for long periods.

"The hardest skill to have in cricket — but one you just have to master — is to leave the ball. It is tough because it does no damage to the bowler and the game is not moving forward. It's not easy but the greatest opening batsmen are great leavers of a cricket ball. Mark Taylor was a classic example. He could leave a cricket ball better than anyone."

Hayden took the world record off Brian Lara (375) and gave it back six months later when Lara made 400 against England. Each milestone was celebrated with a phone call between the two and Hayden relished the exchange because he found Lara the most captivating opponent he ever faced..

"There was a real love-hate thing with Brian. I loved him because he was such an incredible talent and hated him because he was such an incredible rival."

Hayden was unaware of many of the milestones he whizzed past but as he approached the big one became touched not by triumph but a sense of embarrassment.

"It just felt funny that it was all about me and I was almost relieved to get out, thinking 'let's just go and win this game,'" he said.

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