Should Matthew Hayden retire?

[tooextracool]

but they did get the tap on the shoulder, border was well reported at the time as he wanted to go round for another 2 years for instance, and healy wanted to farewell at home. Mark Waugh had no intention of retiring.

yes they were in decline, but they had to get a little 'encouragement'

Mark Waugh's position in the side was always dicey given that he had always been keeping out arguably better players in Australia out of the national side. He became even more inconsistent than ever, and there was certainly nothing wrong with pushing him.

 

[Richard]

but they did get the tap on the shoulder, border was well reported at the time as he wanted to go round for another 2 years for instance, and healy wanted to farewell at home. Mark Waugh had no intention of retiring.

yes they were in decline, but they had to get a little 'encouragement'

The point is that in no case was this "encouragement" bad selection.

Each player - Border excepted - no longer merited his place in the team, even if he wanted to play on for longer. Regardless of their age, any player in such a situation - Border excepted - deserved to be dropped.

Seems odd that Border was forced to retire, however, and if he was then the Australian selectors deserved the 3 years of uncertainty that his departure caused.

 

[Perm]

As regards Hayden, I'd prefer to see him go on for as long as possible doing as poorly as possible, because I don't consider he's all that good and the lower his career average at the end, the better to my mind. Every innings Hayden plays I always hope he's out as cheaply as possible.

C'mon, trolling at its most obvious.

 

[krkode]

C'mon, trolling at its most obvious.

I bet someone wished that same thing on Dravid too... I can't get over how his average has dropped 6 runs (from 58.5-> 52.5) in basically 2 years.

IMO, Hayden still retires with 50+...

 

[Richard]

C'mon, trolling at its most obvious.

Not really. I'm stating how I feel about Hayden when he is at the crease. I'm not suggesting anyone else should feel the same, nor am I even stating an opinion on the calibre of his play.

 

[irfan]

Hayden should retire and focus his energies and batting skills for Chennai in the next edition of the IPL

 

[morgieb]

I feel it is time to go. He's been performing **** recently, and is at an age where he is unlikely to recover.

 

[Rant0r]

The point is that in no case was this "encouragement" bad selection.

Each player - Border excepted - no longer merited his place in the team, even if he wanted to play on for longer. Regardless of their age, any player in such a situation - Border excepted - deserved to be dropped.

Seems odd that Border was forced to retire, however, and if he was then the Australian selectors deserved the 3 years of uncertainty that his departure caused.

which was not my point

 

[Richard]

Your point was that players were performing but were still dropped or told to retire - my point was that they were not. Only with Border does this actually appear to have been the case.

If they were performing it was bad selection; if they weren't it was good selection.

 

[Rant0r]

Your point was that players were performing but were still dropped or told to retire - my point was that they were not. Only with Border does this actually appear to have been the case.

If they were performing it was bad selection; if they weren't it was good selection.

um no, my point was that mathew hayden wouldn't be the first to get the tap on the shoulder.

 

[Matt79]

I'm actually going to say yes. I think he's had a brilliant career, and he should heed the example of his mate Langer and leave us all wanting more. Announce that the SA series will be his last, and just go out and enjoy the last few games - a player this great deserves a farewell tour. With Katich now established, and Jaques and Rogers ready now, and Marsh and Hughes coming along well, it's as good a time as any for him to go.

Would love for him to dominate this series and the 09 Ashes, but I think it's unrealistic to expect players to significantly improve past 35, and that's what he'd need to do to dominate in England.

Love the guy, and don't want to see him end his career ignomiously away from the fans who love him - a double ton in the fourth test to clinch the SA series and help Australia retain the crown is the best way for him to depart.

 

[Richard]

um no, my point was that mathew hayden wouldn't be the first to get the tap on the shoulder.

What you said was "plenty of performing blokes got the tap at his age". And that isn't true - plenty of non-performing blokes got the tap at his age, even if they didn't consider themselves to be not performing and wanted to keep playing.

 

[Rant0r]

depends how you guage performance, hayden averages over 50, but in the last year he has averaged 38 or something hasn't he ? which may be a decline, but still possibly acceptable by many standards, and given his previous achievements, case for cutting some slack, as was the case with many predecessors. but age and the emergence of players like jaques, rogers and hughes will always get the wolves hungry

 

[Richard]

I certainly don't think Hayden's performance this season has been good at all, but equally it's of nowhere near long enough's duration yet to merit the axe.

This is the case regardless of age. I never take age into consideration when I'm thinking about dropping someone - the length and paucity of performance required is the same.

 

[Ponting Man]

No he's still got 1 or 2 years in him!

 

[howardj]

I'm getting strong whispers from my Perth-based spies that Haydos could be making an announcement after this Test, with a view to finishing up in Sydney.

 

[Burgey]

Heard that this morning too. I hope this spy isn't taking cabbage from both of us!!!

 

[NUFAN]

And who is going to take Haydo's spot?

Rogers or Hughes?

 

[Simon]

whoever it is Jaques should still get the spot when he's fit. Don't care what happens between now and then as far as other players performances and form but Jaques earnt a spot at the top of the order and it should be his to lose.

 

[andruid]

And who is going to take Haydo's spot?

Rogers or Hughes?

Jaques when he is fit