By IANS
Sydney : After smashing the Indian bowlers to score his 29th Test century, Australian opener Matthew Hayden said Saturday that the visitors don’t have any chance of wining the second Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
“It is a special day for me as I got my 29th hundred. We have got Australia back to a winning position. India is not going to win this Test. We can really make a difference for India tomorrow as it is not at all an easy wicket to bat on,” said the 36-year-old left-hander, who scored 123 on the penultimate day of the Test.
Hayden, batting with his skipper Ricky Ponting as runner for most of his innings after straining his back and stretching a hamstring, was resolute in his approach before he eventually fell reverse sweeping Indian captain Anil Kumble to Wasim Jaffer at backward short leg.
“It was the first time I used a runner in a Test match. Quite ironical that it was Ponting who was running for me. It is a difficult wicket to bat on. I have never played a reverse sweep ever in my life,” said Hayden.
The Australian opener hoped that the bowlers, especially left-arm spinner Brad Hogg, will play an important role on the fifth day of the match.
“Brad Hogg has to play a big role Sunday, the last day of the match. I realised very early in my innings that it was not easy to score quickly on this track and I expect our seamers to also play an important part in tomorrow’s game,” he said.
Hayden went on to add that the hosts are not thinking about the record of 16 consecutive victories.
“The team is not thinking about the record, but if it comes it’s fine,” he said.
If Australia comes out victorious Saturday, they will equal their own record of 16 consecutive Test wins set under Steve Waugh’s captaincy.
Hayden also said that his 29th century came under pretty difficult circumstances as the visitors applied negative tactics against him.
“It (the century) came under difficult circumstances. The Indian bowlers bowled very wide to me. Even the field was also spread when I was on strike, so scoring boundaries also became very difficult,” Hayden said.