No. 1: Matthew Hayden
Opening the batting on the former Australia captain's all-star Ashes XI picked from among his contemporaries: a burly attacker from Queensland
Ricky Ponting
06-Jul-2015
"He was such an imposing presence and he made his presence felt. With his big, wide shoulders and barrelled chest, opposition bowlers knew he was out there to put them under pressure straightaway"
Stats
OVERALL: Matches 103 Innings 184 Runs 8625 Average 50.73 100s/50s 30/29
ASHES: Matches 20 Innings 35 Runs 1461 Average 45.65 100s/50s 5/2
ASHES: Matches 20 Innings 35 Runs 1461 Average 45.65 100s/50s 5/2
Pick the first opening batsman for your Ashes XI
0 votesMatthew Hayden
Andrew Strauss
Justin Langer
Alastair Cook
Marcus Trescothick
Michael Vaughan
Michael Atherton
Shane Watson
Simon Katich
Mark Taylor
Best performance
197 and 103 in Brisbane, 2002
The early 2000s were the best years of Matthew Hayden's Test career, and he started the 2002-03 Ashes with hundreds in both innings in the first Test in Brisbane. He dominated the English bowling from day one, remaining unbeaten on 186 as Australia cantered to 364 for 2. Hayden fell three shy of a double hundred, but he was not done yet. As Australia pushed to further their 167-run first-innings lead, Hayden once again led the charge, scoring 103. He hit 38 fours and three sixes in the Test, which Australia won by 384 runs.
The early 2000s were the best years of Matthew Hayden's Test career, and he started the 2002-03 Ashes with hundreds in both innings in the first Test in Brisbane. He dominated the English bowling from day one, remaining unbeaten on 186 as Australia cantered to 364 for 2. Hayden fell three shy of a double hundred, but he was not done yet. As Australia pushed to further their 167-run first-innings lead, Hayden once again led the charge, scoring 103. He hit 38 fours and three sixes in the Test, which Australia won by 384 runs.
Trivia
Only four Australians have scored a century in both innings in an Ashes Test: Warren Bardsley, Arthur Morris, Steve Waugh and Matthew Hayden.
One of cricket's modern greats, Ricky Ponting captained Australia in 324 matches and scored over 27,000 runs