Hayden wants World Cup place

Matthew Hayden's solid Ashes form has earned a one-day recall © Getty Images

Matthew Hayden has bid farewell to his Test opening partner Justin Langer and now wants to join Adam Gilchrist in the Australian team all the way to this year's World Cup final.

Hayden's one-day career appeared over when he lost his spot after the 2005 tour of England, but he is now intent on staying put throughout 2007. Shane Watson opened with Gilchrist during last year's Champions Trophy win in India, but his hamstring injury has given Hayden passage into Tuesday's Twenty20 clash against England at Sydney and Friday's opening tri-series clash against England at Melbourne.

Hayden wants to take that chance all the way to the World Cup in the Caribbean, having opened with Gilchrist through the 2003 triumph in South Africa. "Safe to say I'm pretty happy," he told reporters on Saturday. "It's a great opportunity for me and I just feel really lucky to be a part of the next six months of cricket."

The Hayden-Gilchrist combination averaged 52 throughout the 2003 World Cup, and put on 105 in the win over India in the final. The pair is the third-most prolific opening stand in the shortened game, having put on over 3,800 runs in 80 matches together.

"Our partnership has got an opportunity to blossom over the next few months," Hayden said. "Adam is a big player in tournaments and our partnership was very strong right through the last World Cup. It's great to get that opportunity again and deep down we've got a lot of hunger to play for Australia and play well, and if that takes us to the World Cup - hopefully it will do - it will be a tremendous honour and achievement."

Hayden lost his one-day spot to Simon Katich after the 2005 England tour, who in turn lost it to Watson in India. Hayden's last one-day internationals were the two matches he played in Malaysia last September.