Numbers that stand tall

A batting average of 50 is generally considered the benchmark for greatness, and Matthew Hayden finished his Test career just above that mark. Despite a slump that reduced that average by nearly three runs in four months, Hayden still ended with a mean of 50.73, making him one of six Australians to score more than 5000 Test runs at a 50-plus average. In terms of aggregate, his 8625 is in fourth position, bettered only by Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh and Allan Border.

The start and end to his career were similar - he averaged around 24 in his first 13 and last nine Tests - but in between he was amazingly prolific, with 29 centuries in 145 innings, and an outstanding average of more than 58.

Hayden's remarkable run began in that unforgettable tour of India, when he scored 549 and averaged 109.80. Since then, his year-end average didn't dip below 43 for seven successive years, before dipping to 32.47 in 2008. During this seven-year period, from February 2001 to January 2008, he was the leading run-scorer in Test cricket, with 7706 runs in 81 matches. The average, at 58.37, wasn't bad either.

His imposing presence and sheer aggression at the crease were unique, but Hayden backed his style with plenty of substance. Many of his colleagues are calling him Australia's greatest opener, and while that might be arguable, Hayden has the numbers to support that argument. Among Australian openers who scored at least 2500 runs, only one - Bob Simpson - had a higher average. Critics might question the quality of bowling attacks around the world, but Hayden did the job in most conditions, against most opposition line-ups. His average dipped below 40 against only one team - New Zealand - though he did have his problems tackling the conditions in South Africa and England. (Click here for his career summary.)

Increase the cut-off to 5000 runs, and throw open the competition to openers from all teams, and Hayden's numbers still compare favourably - he is one of only six openers to score more than 5000 runs and average more than 50.

With Justin Langer, Hayden formed one of the greatest opening pairs of all time. In terms of partnership runs, only Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes got more, but their average was more than four runs lower than the Australian pair. Hayden and Langer got 3567 of those partnership runs in matches that Australia won, which is a record for any opening pair.

Hayden began his love affair with the subcontinent way back in 2001, and the relationship has stood the test of time. After that watershed series, Hayden also scored hundreds in Sri Lanka and in Sharjah (in a Test against Pakistan). Of the four centuries he has scored in this continent, at least three can be counted among his best innings. Among Australians, Hayden's record in Asia is bettered only by Border, who scored 1799 runs at 54.51 in 22 matches.

Unlike many batsmen who prefer batting in the first innings of a Test, Hayden's stats are marginally better in the second (an average of 51.82 as against 50.02 in the first). Among Australian batsmen who've scored at least 2000 second-innings runs, Hayden's average is third, next only to Don Bradman and Border.

The ODI star
Hayden's Test record is admittedly more imposing, but he was an outstanding performer in the shorter version too, with 6131 runs at 44.10 - the seventh highest in terms of runs for Australia, and third-highest in terms of averages among Australians with at least 2500 runs, next only to Michael Bevan and Dean Jones. Hayden's partnership with Adam Gilchrist was worth 4503 runs, the most by any opening pair.

Hayden's big-match temperament shone through in the World Cups and in tournament finals: in 21 World Cup innings he averaged 51.94, and the story was similar in tournament finals - an average of 50.66, with seven fifty-plus scores in 17 innings. His World Cup tally is fourth among all Australians, while his average in tournament finals is highest among Australians who scored at least 750 runs in such matches.