Date:14/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/14/stories/2009011457332000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Australia’s loss is Super Kings’ gain

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: Matthew Hayden’s retirement from international cricket ensures he will be available for the duration of the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) second edition, strengthening the chances of the Chennai Super Kings.

Hayden, with 189 runs at an average of 63 and a strike-rate of 144.27, powered the Super Kings to four straight wins in the IPL’s inaugural edition before leaving to fulfil national commitments.

“In a way I’m sad he’s going the way he’s going,” said Super Kings director of operations V.B. Chandrasekhar, referring to the left-handed opener’s form slump and subsequent exclusion from the Australian Twenty20 and ODI squads.

“But that’s the nature of international sport, and no one knows that better than Hayden. We’ll gain from having him the full season. We missed his firepower when he had to leave after playing four games last year. He leads by example and is a great motivator.”

Hayden said in Brisbane that despite retiring from all forms of cricket he would honour his three-year contract with the Chennai side.