November 12 Tuesday 2002
Hayden bats well but is no Bradman: Brown 

BRISBANE: Former Australia player Bill Brown, a member of Don Bradman's 'Invincibles' team who toured England in 1948, says Matthew Hayden is a "complete opener" but cannot be compared to Bradman as a batsman. 

Hayden said on Monday he was uneasy about the comparison and that it was ridiculous for him to be labelled Australia's best batsman since Bradman. 

The 31-year-old is rated the top batsman in world cricket after scoring seven centuries in his last 10 Tests, a feat unmatched by any other Australian apart from Bradman in the 1930s. 

"I don't compare anyone with Bradman, and I think Matthew Hayden would be the last one who would want to be compared with him," Brown, 90, said on Monday. 

"But he's certainly doing a wonderful job for Australia," the former Test opener added. "He's the complete opener 
now." 

Hayden was made man of the match after hitting 197 and 103 in Australia's crushing 384-run win in the first Ashes Test against England which ended on Sunday, and has been compared to Bradman by captain Steve Waugh. 

"I haven't seen anything to approach Bradman as yet. The way he got them (his runs) and his general batting put him in a class of his own," Brown added. 

Bradman, who boasted 29 Test centuries from 52 matches and a Test average of 99.94, died last year at the age of 92. Hayden, who finally cemented a place in the Test side at his third attempt in March 2000, has scored 2,900 runs at 53.70, including 11 Test centuries in 34 matches. 

Brown, a former Test captain, is Australia's oldest living Test cricketer. Hayden said: "I'd be lying to say that I wouldn't be extremely uneasy with that tag (best since Bradman). 

"It's ridiculous for little old Matty Hayden from Kingaroy (in Queensland) to be compared with Bradman," the left-handed batsman added in an interview aired on Australia television. 

"It's a great honour first and foremost to just be playing for Australia. This side has taken cricket to a new level." Hayden, who was thrilled to make two centuries before his home crowd at the Gabba in Brisbane last week, said Adelaide Oval, the venue for the second Ashes Test starting on November 21, was his second-favourite ground in Australia. Hayden said Australia had produced an awesome performance to bowl England out in their second innings on Sunday for 79 in less than 29 overs. 

"I think we've opened up a few scars for England as well," he said. "But we won't count them out. There's no doubt they'll fight back."