Hayden to Captain Australian PM''s XI

Deepak Jain Fri, Jan 15 10 11:10 AM

Melbourne, Jan 15 (PTI) Retired opener Matthew Hayden is all set to pad up once again for Australia as he would lead a Prime Minister''s XI against the West Indies next month in Canberra. The 38-year-old former opener will captain a team of players who are seen as potential stars of the future by Australian selectors, Cricket Australia said in a statement. The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the match is a tradition that dates back to Menzies in 1951 when the Prime Minister''s XI also faced the West Indies and drew. "This year I have every expectation the team, led by Matthew Hayden, will achieve an Australian victory, to top the one we saw against New Zealand last year," Rudd said. Hayden follows in the footsteps of his long-time opening partner and friend, Justin Langer, who led the PM''s XI to victory over Sri Lanka. "I was fortunate enough to wear the Baggy Green through a successful period in Australian cricket and am honoured to have been asked by the Prime Minister to lead his team this year," Hayden said. Hayden has played in three PM''s XI matches and still holds the record for the highest first wicket partnership against the West Indies of 113 with Tasmania''s Dene Hills. The former batsman retired from international cricket in January last year but still has an Indian Premier League contract with the Chennai Super Kings.

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