Melbourne Test, Day 3, Lunch
Friday, December 28, 2001

Matthew Hayden was pretty awesome again in that session. It's been a textbook long innings - where he slips in and out of batting well. He has to negotiate those patches, but has done it very, very well so far.

His strokeplay and intent was fantastic. When he decided to do something it came off. His aggressive attitude really had South Africa on the back foot. He just bashed them all around the ground.

What he has done so far is keep it simple in the difficult periods then reaped the rewards. He couldn't stop himself swinging today - it was like he believed Australia had to keep scoring at breakneck speed.

The difference this year has been his comfort levels. In the past he has had to perform to get people off his back. It's hard to make runs consistently when you feel like every innings you're playing for your spot. But he's there now.

This level of performance is no surprise to me - I've seen him bat like this for years for Queensland. He just needed to believe he could do it at Test level.

It really started last season. He got away to a good start but got run out twice against the West Indies. He then went to India, probably better prepared than he has been for any tour before, and it showed. It helped that comfort level.

He dropped off in England but, because he wasn't looking over his shoulder, he was able to relax at the start of this summer and pick up his level again. Time in the team makes a huge difference.

He's thoroughly enjoying it at the moment, his humour is there, he's mucking around when it's time to muck around and he's talking a lot more on the field than he ever did before. He's become a really positive influence in the team.

If he continues this afternoon as he's going he could get 250 or 300. Australia will want to keep scoring quickly to give themselves a chance of bowling South Africa out again. This afternoon session could be a good time for South Africa too. Next in are the Waughs, who haven't had the greatest summer. The South Africans seem to have a plan that they believe works to Steve and Mark. If they can sustain it, it could be a testing time for Australia, given how brittle the middle order has been at times this summer.

Ian Healy made a record 395 dismissals in 119 Tests for Australia. His comments will be appearing exclusively on Wisden.com after each session in this series. He was talking to Tim Stoney.

More Ian Healy
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