Hayden used the example of the rampaging Suryakumar Yadav to hammer home his argument that it is more about striking a hard balance. The power-hitters from nations such as Australia, England, and the West Indies have dominated the shortest format, but Hayden used this example to drive home his point.
Matthew Hayden, a legendary batsman from Australia, is of the opinion that power is not the only factor that matters in Twenty20 cricket, and that players from the subcontinent, like Suryakumar Yadav, have shown that they can be a threat by using “access shots” and “innovation.”
Hayden used the example of the rampaging Suryakumar to hammer home his argument that it is more about striking a hard balance. The power-hitters from nations such as Australia, England, and the West Indies have dominated the shortest format, but Hayden used this example to drive home his point.
The former Australian opener and current Pakistan team consultant stated before Wednesday’s T20 World Cup quarterfinal match against New Zealand that “the power game in T20 cricket is still being explored because there is a blend.”
“When you look at the competition so far, I think the subcontinental players become threats, especially people like Suryakumar Yadav who are playing magnificently through that middle to late stage, with a mastery in all parts of the ground, with access shots, and innovation.” In the year 2022, Suryakumar has scored more than 1000 runs in Twenty20 Internationals.
On Sunday, the 32-year-old captivated an audience at the MCG that numbered 82,000 people with his strokes, some of which were absurd. His undefeated effort of 61 runs off only 25 balls laid the groundwork for India’s decisive victory over Zimbabwe.
Therefore, it’s not always about having the upper hand. In addition, as I previously mentioned, I believe that as cricket players, we are all trying to come to terms with when the power is, when that foot goes down on the floor, and when it decelerates and looks to preserve.