Recently commentating on the opening day of the first test match currently being played at Darwin in Australia between the hosts and the visiting Bangladesh side, Matthew Hayden, one of Australia’s most dangerous former batters and legendary former captain Ricky Ponting were in midst of a fun exchange. Not a banter. Not either of them taking the mickey out of one other; their conversation, largely initiated by the iconic burly left handed former Australia batter gravitated to a period of time from the past.
A past where Hayden was talking about a nostalgic episode involving his lack of batting form, which involved Glenn McGrath making a light hearted observation on that with the opening batter recounting how he at one point struggled to find a way back into the team.
As Matthew Hayden recounted the story back his early or initial days of playing Test match cricket, he rewinded back to a particularly struggling period in his life as an opener where he was clearly struggling for runs with the bat.
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These were early days for him and he hadn’t yet become the consistent run scorer of the top of the order mainstay for his country.
He said with Ricky Ponting playing close attention that during one of the low moments as he (Hayden) got back into the dressing room after what was probably just his 11th Test for the country, legendary fast bowler, Glenn McGrath, who’s widely regarded as among the greats of all time with the ball, walked up to Hayden and shared that, “hey buddy, I (McGrath) average more than you!”
Now, interestingly as Hayden recalled the episode with all seriousness, Ponting shared smilingly that “That is an absolutely fabricated story.” And would continue, “that’s not true at all.. if that were the case you wouldn’t have been in the team at all!”
Poor Haydos just wanted to tell a story about trying to find his way in the Test team 😂 pic.twitter.com/5fAdWLscIh
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) August 13, 2026
To this, Hayden would reply to Ponting sharing that, “I almost wasn’t!”
Truly speaking, it’s always fun and memorable when two outstanding cricketers who’ve been part of amazing cricketing cultures sit down together and recollect tales from the days of the yore as was the case this time around during the ongoing Test match between Australia and Bangladesh.
Although, the hosts look to be in a precarious situation having only scored 198 runs and that’s about it, Bangladesh would certainly like to make a contest of it with their batters having begun well and with 4 days of play still remaining up ahead.
