Matthew Hayden is coming out of retirement to play for the Brisbane Heat in Australia's revamped Twenty20 "Big Bash" cricket league.
Hayden, who retired from international cricket after winning two World Cups and playing 103 test matches, will be 40 when the tournament opens in December.
After leaving international cricket in 2009, the burly opener flourished for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, and helped the club win the 2010 Champions League T20. He was the leading scorer int he IPL in 2009 with 572 runs at an average of 52 and a strike-rate of 133.81.
"Now is the time to start turning up the Heat," Hayden said Monday as he confirmed his signing.
He was the 14th signing for the Queensland-state club. The new league will comprise eight teams, with two each in New South Wales and Victoria states and one each in the other state capitals.
New Zealanders Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori are the two international players contracted to the Heat.
Hayden's private company has taken an equity position with the Heat in a five-year deal which will involve him taking a business development role in the club, meaning he will not seek re-election for the Queensland Cricket Board and will quit as a director of Cricket Australia to participate in the competition.
{{/usCountry}}Hayden's private company has taken an equity position with the Heat in a five-year deal which will involve him taking a business development role in the club, meaning he will not seek re-election for the Queensland Cricket Board and will quit as a director of Cricket Australia to participate in the competition.
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