IPL can bring in significant changes, says Hayden

Veteran Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden says the Indian Premier League has the potential to effect "significant changes" in world cricket.

Veteran Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden says the Indian Premier League has the potential to effect "significant changes" in world cricket.

HT Image

Hayden, bought by the Chennai franchise of the IPL, said since the Indian venture was based on Twenty20 concept it would provide ample entertainment to the fans.

"It's a game which gives all the players the chance to be part of a competition to ignite cricket," Hayden was quoted as saying in 'The Australian.'

"I get the feeling that the IPL and other Twenty20 competitions will lead to significant changes in cricket, not dissimilar to the way Super 14s has moved rugby forward," he added.

The leading run-scorer in last year's Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, Hayden said the exciting nature of the game would woo more crowds in future.

"This is going to have significant implications in the way cricket will be viewed and played.

"If I was a consumer of the game I would want to go and see it because it's bloody exciting.

"It's still got all the skills. When players start to really get amongst this game and start specifically training for it, it can only get better."

Hayden said he loved his role of pinch-hitting in Twenty20 cricket.

"I am employed to pinch-hit, so the elements I have been working on in my batting over the years have been boundary hitting, power hitting," he said.