Grace Hayden opens up on having a famous cricketing dad, and its impact on her career
Sports presenter Grace Hayden may be the daughter of a cricketing great, but that doesn’t mean the path to success has been easy.
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Having a high profile parent may come with it’s benefits, but Grace Hayden has certainly earned her place on her own merit.
The sports presenter may be the daughter of cricketing legend Matthew Hayden, but that doesn’t mean the path to success has been easy.
“More often than not, you have to work harder to prove yourself that you actually deserve to be there,” Hayden told The Sunday Telegraph.
“So I love that challenge aspect of the situation that I am so grateful and lucky to be born into, but it’s a genuine passion and love that I have for the game, and I couldn’t see myself doing anything else now.”
It’s been a whirlwind year for the 23-year-old, filled with international cricket coverage in India, back-to-back events, and a European holiday with her boyfriend.
Through it all, her biggest supporter remains her dad.
“He is always so proud of me,” she said.
“He’s always stoked to see me achieve new heights and we always have a laugh together.”
Her latest achievement sees her front and centre in a major international move.
In collaboration with North America’s leading cricket broadcaster, Willow, Hayden is hosting its first ever original content series, Game On with Grace.
In a full circle moment, the first episode features a conversation with Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist, a three-time World Cup winner.
“Talking to Gilly we were just talking about how the full circle moment is so nice,” Hayden said.
“Obviously there are so many amazing relationships that you build in the cricket family, and to have them from such a young age to now … it’s surreal every time.
“He [Matthew Hayden] knows that I’m a super hard working girl. So he knows everything that I do, I put 120 per cent into it. So he’s looking forward to seeing it succeed.”
Having spent her whole life surrounded by cricket, you might assume Hayden would have grown tired of it, but she says that’s never been the case.
“I am absolutely not sick of it,” she said.
“Because you just have to immerse yourself in it. It’s a world that I’ve grown up in. So I have just lived and breathed it, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
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Originally published as Grace Hayden opens up on having a famous cricketing dad, and its impact on her career
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