Matthew Hayden Backs India to Win Test Series Against South Africa
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden feels that India are a force to reckon with in home conditions and will win the ODI series against South Africa.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: October 21, 2015 10:12 PM IST
India may have been trailing 2-1 in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa, but former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has backed the hosts to bounce back and win the series. (India vs South Africa: Batting Woes Confront Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Men as They Look to Save Series)
With question marks being raised over India's tinkering batting line-up, Hayden said that the best players should always bat at No 3 or No 4.
"I would like to see Kohli. I think your best players should bat at No 3 or No 4. Last time we saw Kohli batting at No 3 and MS Dhoni batting at No 4 right.
"Yes, I think there is some merit in that. More than anything else, the approach to the game has changed so much now you know in opening the batting and everyone is going to have their dye in the sun.
"Right now Rohit Sharma is just unstoppable," said Hayden who is in town to conduct a three-day batting clinic during Uttar Pradesh's Ranji Trophy camp at the Greater Noida Stadium.
Hayden also backed under-fire India skipper MS Dhoni to get back to winning ways.
"There are times when you got to take a light hearted approach to this and MS Dhoni, I think it was not last game, it was a game before scored a terrific innings to win the match. Again every dog has their day.
"MS is a champion and he is playing very well at the moment. He will play as long as he wants to. I was surprised actually when he gave up test match cricket because I think he still had a lot to play for. One thing about MS is that he is absolutely certain in his mind of everything that he does," he added.
When quizzed about his prediction as to who will win the series, the Australian said, "I think India will win the series, that's my prediction. I think you are too strong in your conditions."
His IPL team may have been handed a two-year suspension, by Hayden believes that there is nobody bigger than the game but IPL will miss Rajasthan Royals and CSK.
The Supreme Court-appointed high-level Committee, headed by former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha, proposed two-year suspensions on Indian Premier League franchises Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals in the spot-fixing scandal that rocked the sixth edition of the T20 tournament in 2013.
"Yes absolutely. CSK has got runs on the board in the competition and it is a very sad day I think for the competition. Having said that the most important thing about our game is that it has an integrity and the powers to have been judged the fact that that's not how the game should be played and CSK and RR have to accept that call," said the 43-year-old.
When broached upon the coaching topic, the former opener, who scored 8625 runs from 103 Test said, "There is not an offer and to me I can't say yes or no. But for me I would love my involvement. And as you say I love my food, I love my travel and I love my outdoors life and I have a very successful business at home that runs production and manages different talent and you know there are a lot of opportunities of life.
"So, never say never, but there is no offer on the table and I can't say yes or no.
(With inputs from Yash Chawla)