Hayden completes recovery

Matthew Hayden has been passed fit to play in the first Test against New Zealand on Thursday after recovering from an AC joint sprain which kept him out of the second half of the recent ODI series.

Hayden was given the all-clear after successfully completing four net sessions. Alex Kontouri, Australian team physiotherapist, commented, “He’s pulled up well without too much discomfort, and is now set to play,”.

Hayden suffered the injury while taking a diving catch from Chris Cairns in the 2nd ODI. As a result, Mike Hussey was added to the Test squad just in case Hayden didn’t recover in time. With Hayden now ready to play, Hussey will fly back to Brisbane to play for his state side, Western Australia.