On this day in 2003: Matthew Hayden slams 380 against Zimbabwe
Matthew Hayden was one of the most destructive batters during his playing days and he along with Adam Gilchrist has provided brisk starts for Australia on countless occasions. Hayden was known for changing the complexion of the game with his ruthless power-hitting abilities.
Meanwhile, the southpaw was also an accomplished Test batter capable of playing impactful knocks and it was on this day in 2003 that Hayden scored 380, which was then the highest score in red-ball cricket.
When Matthew Hayden’s triple century blew away Zimbabwe
Australia and Zimbabwe locked horns in the first Test match at Perth. Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak called it right at the toss and elected to bowl first. Even though Justin Langer (26) and Ricky Ponting (37) could not make much of an impact, Hayden took the attack to the Zimbabwean bowlers right from the word ‘go’.
The batters that followed ensured maximum support for Hayden, but he took the initiative of single-handedly ticking Australia’s scoreboard. En route to his blistering triple hundred, he was also involved in huge partnerships with Steve Waugh (207) and Adam Gilchrist (233). While Waugh went on to score 78, Gilchrist remained unbeaten on 113 as the Aussies posted a mammoth 735 runs on the board for the loss of six wickets before declaring their innings.
During that superlative knock, Matthew Hayden also surpassed the legendary Sir Don Bradman’s highest Test score of 334 and thereby registered the highest individual score by an Australian batter in the longest format.
With a flurry of destructive shots, Hayden went on to shatter Brian Lara’s record of 375, which was then the highest individual Test score. Lara had made the record during a Test match against England at Antigua in 1994.
Hayden went on to score 380 runs from 437 deliveries and his knock included 38 fours and 11 sixes. Nonetheless, the Aussie power-hitter could only hold that record for six months as Lara regained his crown when he registered an individual Test score of 400 against England in April 2004.
Hayden retired from the game in 2009 and he boasts of having scored 8625 runs from 103 matches averaging 50.73 and a strike rate of 60.10 including 30 centuries.
