Hayden, Sehwag promise fireworks at the top

Manoj Vatsyayana

There will be no dearth of excitement in the upcoming Test series as Australian opener Matthew Hayden and his Indian counterpart Virender Sehwag gear up for an explosive start. Sparks will fly when the hard-hitting duo cross swords in the four-match series starting in Bangalore on Thursday because both like to dominate bowling with a wide range of attacking strokes.

Pace or spin, slow or fast wicket, Hayden and Sehwag have always been quick to adjust to the conditions to play major roles in laying a strong foundation for big totals for their sides. Hayden, 36, relishes Indian conditions, having aggregated 793 runs in seven Tests with an average of 61.00.

Similarly, Sehwag likes to thrive on the Australian attack, averaging 53.90 in 11 matches. Hayden was virtually a non-entity when he toured India in 2001 with Steve Waugh's side, but returned as a superstar after scoring 549 runs in three Tests at an average of 109.80. Australia lost the series 2-1, but Hayden added a cubit and more to his stature with his ability to play long innings under pressure.

The 2001 tour helped Hayden resurrect his Test career as he had been in and out of the strong Australian side since making his debut against South Africa in 1994.

It was a tribute to his skill that he continued to build on his success to become one of the most feared and respected batsmen. He formed a durable opening partnership with Justin Langer, the key to his team's many wins. "The Indian series is one of the great challenges in cricket and I feel up to it mentally," Hayden said.

"I am feeling very comfortable and confident with my game at the moment. The previous tours here have been actually the greatest preparation for me. "I have had success in India, so I am feeling pretty confident."

Like Hayden, Sehwag also began his Test career in a team containing stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly. But he took just a couple of series to carve a niche for himself. Sehwag, 29, started as a middle-order batsman against South Africa in 2001, but achieved fame after he was sent in as an opener in England the following year.

He soon became an enigma in Indian cricket. He would throw away his wicket with a rash stroke just when his team needed him to stay at the crease, but also produce a gem of an innings when least expected. Unpredictability is Sehwag's middle name.

He may not have the consistency of Tendulkar, but is the only Indian to have smashed a Test triple-century. In fact, he has two to his credit - 309 against Pakistan in 2004 and 319 against South Africa in 2007. Coaching manuals are not meant for Sehwag, who believes in making his own rules. He does not mind taking risks even when nearing a landmark, like reaching 300 with a six against Pakistan.

When Sehwag fires, India rarely fail. He contributed an amazing 201 not out in his team's total of 329 in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Galle recently which eventually helped India win the match. India and Australia will be looking forward to their explosvie openers to seize an early advantage in the high-profile series.

NEW DELHI, Sunday, AFP