Hayden: Can teens sustain 'devil may care' batting?

Australian cricket icon Matthew Hayden has advised young cricketers to avoid simply copying the aggressive batting styles of emerging talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, urging them instead to find their own sustainable approach.

Hayden, who recently observed Sooryavanshi during the Indian Premier League, noted the allure of the 15-year-old's 'attack at all costs' T20 style but questioned its long-term viability. He contrasted this with Shubman Gill's classical batsmanship, which has proven successful at the international level.

Hayden stressed the importance of players discovering their 'inner warrior' and developing their unique game, drawing parallels to his own career where he admired but did not copy Brian Lara's style. He believes coaches should nurture individuality for sustainable development.

Furthermore, Hayden expressed significant concerns about the relevance of 50-over cricket, deeming it to be in an 'existential crisis.' He pointed out that bilateral ODI series outside of major contests struggle for context, echoing sentiments previously shared by Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

Hayden highlighted that the International Cricket Council (ICC) faces critical decisions regarding the sport's future structure and the balance between franchise leagues and international cricket. He also touched upon the practical challenges faced by cricketing nations like the West Indies, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka within the current international framework.