Matthew Hayden says Matt Renshaw should not be overwhelmed by the expectations of others
IT TOOK Matthew Hayden seven years to learn the lesson but he hopes debutant Matt Renshaw won’t make the same mistakes he did in the first part of his Test career.
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IT TOOK Matthew Hayden seven years to learn the lesson but he hopes Matt The Bat II can somehow grasp it on his Test debut.
Just don’t let big expectations weigh you down.
Hayden is excited by the potential of 20-year-old batting star Matt Renshaw who shares the same state, first name, batting sponsor, left-handed style and imposing presence at the crease as Queensland’s finest home-grown Test batsman.
Renshaw will make his Test debut in Adelaide against South Africa, the same nation Hayden faced in his first Test when he made 15 and 5 as a 22-year-old in Johannesburg in 1994.
“There are big expectations when you arrive but I am hoping he cannot worry too much about them and just relax and enjoy the experience,’’ Hayden said.
“Just be what you will be. It took me seven years to work that out. That’s why I was averaging about 23 after the first seven years of my career.
“I was crushed by my own expectations. That’s why I hope Matt just goes out and plays.
“I think he should realise it is a good opportunity but don’t think it is the be all and end all.
“Your own expectations are so high that the pressure can build up and self doubts can creep in.’’
Renshaw’s debut has come in such a rush that Test captain Steve Smith said he had never set eyes upon him until he appeared in camp in Adelaide.
Some observers claim Renshaw is not as expansive as Hayden but Hayden points out he was often far more watchful than people remember, particularly in challenging conditions.
“I haven’t seen much of Matt but I like the way he has a few gears to his batting. That is a huge advantage. Test cricket is all about having a good defence.
“It’s good to be able to attack but you have to be able to survive first.
“People say I was an aggressive player but I used to start every game in first gear. A lot of times my strike rate would be 40 (runs per hundred balls) for my first 50.
“Then I would get going. That’s my hope for Matt. That he can grind things out with Dave Warner for a while. Take the shine off the ball. That’s what Australia has been craving for.’’
Hayden believes for all the good vibes generated by gung-ho batting in the modern era, the value of the heavy-duty opening batsman is as great as ever.
“Sometimes you just have to have the mindset to survive in tough conditions. Are you happy to just to survive for a while?
“It’s an important question. That’s why Mark Taylor was so important because he had such a good defensive game it protected the middle order who could come out and bat with such freedom.’’
Originally published as Matthew Hayden says Matt Renshaw should not be overwhelmed by the expectations of others
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