Sports
Hayden to retire from ODIs before World Cup
Melbourne | July 22, 2008 6:05:08 PM IST
Injury-plagued Australian opener Matthew Hayden has spoken of a "transitional period" during which he will end his illustrious ODI career to prolong his Test career and also allow youngsters to fit in the side for the 2011 World Cup. The veteran though, at the moment is eager to make a comeback in the Champions Trophy later this year. "I've got no intention to go onto the next World Cup (in 2011). There will be a transition period between now and that World Cup," Hayden was quoted as saying in The Herald Sun. "From there I'd like to think I can step aside in a manner which is very unselfish to the preparation of the team moving forward to the next World Cup." Hayden -- who only secured a place at the top of the Australian ODI order after Mark Waugh retired from one-day cricket in 2002 -- is aware that he has to do the right thing keeping in mind Australia's next generation of players. "I appreciated what Mark Waugh enabled me to do prior to my first World Cup (in 2003), and that was I had about 50 games under my belt to get well settled and well prepared for the World Cup," Hayden said. The opener, who on form commands a place in all versions of the game, insists he is desperate to return from an ankle injury for September's Champions Trophy which seems set to be shifted away from strife-torn Pakistan. Hayden revealed he had not had surgery on his troublesome ankle -- which caused him to miss Australia's entire Caribbean campaign -- and was taking his recovery day by day. He admitted his various tendon problems have caused him great frustration for almost a decade. "It is a tendon that has just been worked. It's deteriorating," Hayden said. "It doesn't mean it gets any worse, I've had it in my knees for nine years. Some days they are sore but you play. Other days they hurt and they hurt badly." Hayden had scans last week which he said showed he was on the road to recovery and he feels he should be fit for the Champions Trophy and the Test series in India in October.pt/av/vs (407 Words)22071726NNNN (IANS)
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