Dubai: Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, which formed one of the most eternal and destructive cricket opening partnerships, briefly would become a rival on Thursday when Pakistan handled Australia for a place in the Twenty20 World Cup final.
Both are now 50 years old, their competitive nature has found a new outlet – Hayden as a batting consultant with Pakistan and Langer as Australian head coach.
“It’s a very unusual feeling,” recognized Hayden on Wednesday.
“I was a warrior for Australian cricket for two decades, giving me the benefits of having extraordinary insight not only to these players but also into the cricket culture in Australia.” Hayden and Langer are bedrock from the Australian side for the best part of a decade.
They opened together for the first time in the oval in 2001 and walked side by side for the final at Sydney Cricket Ground in 2007.
Among them, they collected 5,655 running together when opening, records that cover six double partnerships.
On average they are shade under 52.
The two men end their careers with more than 100 tests each and running bags – Hayden destroyed 8,625 while Langer reached 7,696.
Hayden admitted Thursday’s clash would attract the heart and memory.
“I think from my point of view there are heart challenges, the challenge of the mind in what will happen for the next 24 hours,” he said.
“But I will also say very proudly that it is extraordinary to be part of Pakistan’s cricket.
We have some extraordinary young players, a mixture of beautiful experienced players on our line-up, and they and the team appeared awesome.” Langer has experienced difficult times as coaches lately.
The opening previously took over after the famous “Sandpaper-Gate” ball-tubpering tour in South Africa in 2018 and was widely praised for rebuilding the Australian cricket culture.
But the room riots dressed were never far away and he was forced to overcome negative feedback on his management style this year, which peaked in a crisis to speak with senior players and executives.
Defeat on Thursday against an invincible Pakistan and with ashes on the land of the house to follow will only increase pressure.
“Justin Langer and I myself are in the same position as far as the national coach or coach hit never won the cricket game,” Hayden said.
“11 which took part in the game won the match, and we only spare.” Hayden said he wanted to leave the lasting heritage with the Pakistani team by helping to deliver the second T20 world title to follow their 2009 victory.
In that case, he gave an emotional award to former Australian Star Dean Jones who trained and commented widely in Pakistan.
Jones died at the age of 59 in Mumbai in September 2020.
“The words closing Dean to me, I could hear in my ear,” Hayden recalled.
“These are my children.
This is something I really like ‘ These but future generations.
“If I can add any value to those who close the comments from Deano, it will be my greatest honor.”