Ashes 2013: Australia can upset England – Matthew Hayden

11 years ago | Posted in: Sports | 507 Views

Former Australia batsman Matthew Hayden says the current team can beat England in this year’s Ashes despite going into the series as underdogs.

Australia, beaten in the 2009 and 2011 Ashes series, suffered a 4-0 whitewash by India in March.

But Hayden told : “Australia are capable of anything when it comes to the Ashes.

“They have to be workmanlike, build pressure and be in a position to take England on.”

Hayden, who played 103 Tests for Australia between 1994 and 2009, said much would depend on the fitness of England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who is battling to recover from a knee injury in time for the first Test at Trent Bridge on 10 July.

“For me he is the key player and would be a huge loss,” said Hayden. “He has had longevity in the sport. He has played against Australia many times, has taken us on and has won.”

Australia’s mauling in India has left the team at arguably its lowest ebb since the mid-1980s, when they lost eight and won only two of 13 consecutive Test series before pulling off a shock 4-0 victory in the 1989 Ashes in England.

Their 16-man squad features only five players who have played an Ashes Test in England and lacks proven pedigree following the recent retirements of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey and the ongoing struggle to replace stellar talents such as Hayden, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist.

source :Www.bbc.com

 

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