Hayden extols depth of Australian cricket

KUALA LUMPUR: Test opener Matthew Hayden has been overlooked for the Champions Trophy next month and while disappointed he views it more as a sign of the depth of Australian cricket.            

Hayden used to be fixture of the one-day team, playing 119 internationals, and while he has been recalled for the DLF Cup in Malaysia, he is not going to India for the mini-World Cup.        

"It’s been a long time since I've played one-day cricket for Australia. I like to think that my performances in Test cricket have led me to this position right now," said the 34-year-old Queenslander.          

"I have missed out on the Champions Trophy but it does give me the opportunity to sink all of my time and energy into playing good Ashes cricket."       

He said that his omission from the Champions Trophy side showed how many good players Australia had at its disposal.              

"My career hasn't always been on an even keel. I've always had to fight hard for my position and perhaps that is the great strength of this wonderful side," he said.   

"Everyone puts themselves in the position every day to be the best cricketer that they can be and I believe I have done that over the years.    

"The reason why Australian cricket is so strong is that blokes like me are sitting on the fringe after being a senior player for 120 games and still looking to train, still looking to work hard and still looking to perform every day. If a senior player can be in that position, what is that saying to a junior player? It's the great strength of our game."             

Hayden has scored more than 7,000 Test runs and over 4,000 in the one-day game.