Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer are Australia’s most successful pair in Test cricket. After 14 years, the old friends and teammates find themselves on opposite sides in a T20 World Cup knockout match between Pakistan and Australia.
Langer is Australia's coach while Hayden is the batting coach for Pakistan. The two countries will face off in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai.
In an exclusive chat with the ICC, Hayden admitted that he was conflicted.
However, the ICC article stated, the Langer-Hayden duo, who averaged 51.53 in 122 innings together, are approaching the knockout match with the same respect for each other and for the game of cricket that has always defined their relationship.
Both coaches noted Pakistan team's calmness as the standout feature in the tournament, while Hayden remained convinced that Australia had not fully hit their straps yet and were shaping up nicely.
“The thing about Pakistan, historically, we’ve always said they’re inconsistently brilliant,” said Langer, in the chat with ICC. “But what I see in this team is a real calmness and consistency."
On Pakistan's winning streak that has seen them winning five games and being the only unbeaten team in the tournament so far, Langer said: "It looks like they’re very well led by one of the world’s best batsmen. What a beautiful player Babar [Azam] is! They’ve got a balanced bowling attack. They seem like a calm united outfit."
Hayden, meanwhile, said that his opinion of Pakistan has changed ever since his coaching stint. “I always felt they were an emotional side,” the former explosive opening batter said, drawing from his playing days. “Hence I would go after Shoaib Akhtar. I knew that if I could put one on his chin, his emotions would be flying, of which anger was his primary one, and bingo, I was in his head.”
But, he added, his experiences with the team this tournament have led him to challenge this stereotype. “What I saw inside the dressing room, in the build-up even, was a deep connection of spirit and spirituality, which centred the four tribes of Pakistan and that then led to the unification of that common [team] vision. So whilst there was this euphoria that was buzzing [for the tournament], I have never seen a more calm unit of individuals.
“And then when they won [the first match against arch-rivals India], I thought it was going to be on, players running this way, that way! But [instead], we came back to the dressing room, there was a call to prayer, that happened immediately, and there was a calmness and peace and some small conversations with no fanfare. The word bounced around – that is the most powerful word as an athlete – and that is humility, and that led to this incredible calm that straightaway I felt inspired by, connected to and completely at home in, in terms of being respected, listened to.”
Hayden said he considered it "a privileged month" for him as he had made memories of a good World Cup and discussed religion and sprituality and shared his passion for cricket with the Pakistan team.
Langer noted the key for Australia in today's match would be to strike in the Powerplay, when field restrictions mean only two fielders are allowed outsided the 30-yard circle allowing batters the freedom to go for big shots with relatively less risk.
Pakistan has been one of the most consistent teams in the first six overs, having lost just two wickets during the Powerplay overs in their five matches so far. “And we all know through all the IPL, through all the World Cup, all my tenure as head coach, that the key to winning T20 cricket is how you play the Powerplay,” added Langer.
During the chat, Hayden warned Pakistan to be wary of the “fuel in the tank” Australia had going into the semi-final.
“I don’t think Australia have played their best cricket so far in the tournament. They’ve been playing 60 per cent of their capabilities, until the last game, where they started to elevate the percentage upwards. I think it’s bubbling away at 85 per cent and here Australia are at the World Cup semi-final with some fuel in the tank for improvement.
“A consistency is where now the Australian cricket team [is at], seemingly from the outside in … And that will resonate through the semi-final.”
Langer agreed that there was “something building” for Australia, who, for all their 50-over World Cup success, haven’t won a T20 World Cup yet.
“I found our game against England very sobering. Because they hammered us,” the coach said. In that game, Australia were kept to 125, which England chased down in 11.4 overs. “But what we took from that was – something that Australians are great at – was that we’ve got a big challenge on here, we’ve got to get a lot better.
“The way the boys bounced back with energy and hunger and competitive spirit, that was the highlight for me. It tells me there’s something building for us.”
Another interesting prospect when the two teams face off is the competition between two fiery pace attacks. And Hayden spoke for hundreds of fans when he said, “I love watching fast bowlers. It’s just beautiful to watch genuine fast bowling and both these units have genuine fast bowlers.
“[Pakistan’s] Haris Rauf, he was playing tennis-ball cricket. We’re talking about an individual who can bowl mid-150s. There is nothing that beats velocity, and the other key factor? Swing!
“Both of these boys [Rauf and Shaheen Afridi], and also [Australia’s Mitchell] Starc, Pat Cummins – that is genuine pace. And I love watching how the opening batsmen, the engine room of cricket, start to deal with what that looks like,” Hayden added.
