Matthew Hayden Analyzes Batting Struggles in WTC Final

Technical Deficiencies Highlighted in WTC Final

Matthew Hayden, a former opener, has shared his insights on the disappointing performance of batters from South Africa and Australia during the World Test Championship (WTC) final. He attributes some of the 28 wickets that fell over the first two days to 'clear technical deficiencies.' Both teams struggled to handle the seam movement, resulting in 14 dismissals each.

Historical analysis indicates that the pitch conditions were not significantly different from previous matches. In the second innings on Day 2, key players like Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, and captain Pat Cummins were dismissed in just 42 balls, leaving Australia in a precarious position at 73/7.

Hayden emphasized that Test cricket requires players to adapt to lower scoring rates, contrasting sharply with the fast-paced nature of white-ball formats. In T20 cricket, batters often create space for themselves, but this approach proved detrimental for Labuschagne, Cameron Green, and Webster, who failed to close the gap between themselves and the ball, leading to edges or being trapped in front.

He remarked, 'Test match cricket demands that you get comfortable with not scoring quickly, which is the opposite of what shorter formats teach. T20 batting encourages moving away from the ball to generate power, but in Tests, that becomes a vulnerability. The dismissals of Labuschagne, Green, and Webster were all due to not getting close to the ball.'

Hayden recalled the advice he received: 'We were taught to 'smell the leather'—to let the ball come under your eyes. In the longer format, that means moving towards the ball, not away from it. Currently, there are evident technical issues as these players adjust to Test cricket.'

Sanjay Bangar, a former coach and cricketer, also commented on the positional play of modern batters, which can be advantageous in some situations but detrimental in others. He noted, 'This might be a tendency among Australian and South African batters. Many, like Labuschagne, frequently get out on the fifth or sixth stump line. Standing on off stump leads to a defensive mindset, causing hesitation in foot movement towards the ball.'

'Worrying about LBW can affect technique. Successful players in England, such as Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Joe Root, often positioned themselves leg side of the ball. While this works on bouncy pitches, it can leave players vulnerable in different conditions.'