Contract A Killer For Hayden

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday January 10, 2009

Jamie Pandaram and Michael Gleeson

MATTHEW HAYDEN'S Ashes prospects will hinge on the selectors' willingness to offer the veteran batsman a central contract for the 2009-10 season despite the likelihood of him retiring after that series.

When selectors hand out the 25 Cricket Australia contracts in April, their task will be to firstly choose players who can win matches, and secondly reward young prospects.

With a focus on the 2011 one-day World Cup - as seen by the squad chosen for this summer - there is likely to be a number of young players contracted.

Hayden, 37, has indicated he would like to play in the Ashes but few believe he wants to continue beyond then, which leaves selectors in a bind. If they give Hayden a contract and he retires after one series, a rookie misses out. (A contract cannot be replaced.)

But sources suggested yesterday that if selectors felt Hayden was the best man for the tour, he would be given a contract and payment would cease on his retirement.

After a summer of disappointing results and discontented cricketers, the selectors have taken the extraordinary step of scheduling a meeting with every national team player in the next month.

All Australian contracted players, and prospective players, were notified yesterday of the offer by chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch to update them on the selectors' view of their standing.

The move comes after criticism of selection and uncertainty surrounding omissions.

In particular, spin bowlers Jason Krejza and Cameron White were dropped after brief Test stints, Ben Hilfenhaus missed his Test debut in favour of a player that had been out of the Test squad for the previous match and Brad Hodge was curiously overlooked for the Australian limited-overs sides in favour of lesser performed, but younger, rivals.

The players were notified of the offer by email yesterday with the meetings to be held as soon as possible.

Left-arm pace bowler Nathan Bracken, who had earlier expressed disappointment at missing the Test team, said he welcomed another opportunity to talk to the selectors about what he needed to do to resume his Test career.

"It is something that has been done and put forward and it is good to see that Andrew Hilditch is happy to sit down and basically tell you where you are at and what their plans are and what they are looking at from you. So, to me, I see it as a positive," Bracken said.

"I think it has just put it in a formal situation. A lot of the time it comes down to the fact the ball is in our court."

Australia play their first Twenty20 game of the summer tomorrow at the MCG against South Africa.

Injured leg spinner Bryce McGain will step up his rehabilitation from a shoulder injury suffered on the eve of making his Test debut when he bowls for Victoria in a four-day second XI game in Canberra from Tuesday.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is not guaranteed to play in Sunday's Twenty20 match against South Africa at the MCG as officials assess his recent heavy workload.

West Australian keeper Luke Ronchi joined the Australian squad on Friday.

Ronchi played in Melbourne on Thursday night, for WA against Victoria, and took part in Australia's light training session.

Haddin is also taking part and will be assessed today.

Batsman Mike Hussey missed Friday's session because of a stomach bug but is expected to recover in time to play.

After losing the Test series to the Proteas, Australia will be out to retain their edge over the rest of the world in limited-overs cricket.

© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald

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