Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden is ready to offer help to his compatriots after the visiting team's dismal performance against the Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the first two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy so far. Team India have bowled out the touring party on each of the four innings and on the both the batches it the these two spinners who have played a pivotal role in Australia's downfall.
Jadeja is the leading wicket-taker in the series so far with a total of 17 wickets in the 4 innings at an average of 11.23 and an economy of under 3. Ashwin isn't too far behind behind either is the second leading wicket-taker in the series with 14 wicket- meaning a total of 31 wickets between them. Axar Patel, the Men in Blue's third spinner, hasn't had to do much but has a wicket to his credit, taking the spinners' tally of wickets against Australia to 32 out of the 40 wickets.
I've always said yes to helping Australia at any time of day: Hayden
India won the first Test match against Australia in Nagpur by and innings and 132 runs and the second Test in Delhi by 6 wickets. Both the Tests finished inside 3 days with Aussie batters crumbling against the spinners. Fearing further humiliation in the series, Hayden has now offered to help the team figure out a way to bat and score runs against spinners.
"100%, at any time of the day or night, it is given that myself - and I'm sure I speak for anyone else that I represent that would have that kind of influence - would 100% be in," Hayden, who is part of the commentary panel for the series, was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Any time I have been asked to do anything I've always said yes at any time of day," the 51-year-old added.