Hayden's announcement at the Gabba was an emotional one
|
Glamorgan are considering making a shock bid to sign former Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden.
The 37-year-old announced his retirement from first-class cricket on Tuesday after a 17-year career and 103 Test matches.
But cricket manager Matthew Maynard's friendship with Hayden could still see him play at the Swalec Stadium either this season or next.
"There is a possibility," Maynard told BBC Wales.
Twice a World Cup winner with Australia, Hayden hit 10 centuries and 36 half-centuries in 161 one-day internationals.
He averaged 43.8 runs in the format, with a top score of 181 not out, and also played in two World Cup-winning squads.
He was the International Cricket Council's one-day international player of the year in 2007 and the Australian ODI player of the year in 2008.
Hayden said his retirement was from all representative teams, but confirmed he will honour his Indian Premier League (IPL) commitment with the Chennai Super Kings.
 |
606: DEBATE
|
And that could be one of the stumbling blocks for Maynard.
"We've obviously got Herschelle Gibbs as our overseas player for July, August and September and Matthew Hayden would be playing in the IPL in India," said Maynard.
"He would at best be available for a month and really, that's not the kind of balance we want.
"We want people to be available for longer than that.
"I don't know if it would be a great coup just for a month because it could work or backfire and if it went really well, you wish he stayed all year.
"I think the cons outweigh the pros."
Maynard added: "If he was available all season, without a shadow we would have to have a serious look at that.
"But obviously the budget has gone for this season, so we would have to perhaps look at that for the following season.
"IPL is a lot less taxing than a full county season and he would earn a lot more money than he would playing for a county."
Hayden began his international career in South Africa in 1994 but it was not until the formation of his opening partnership with Justin Langer six years later that his career really took off.
In 2001, he made 549 runs at an average of 109 in a three-Test series in India and two years later set a new world record for the highest Test score when he made 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth, an innings that featured 11 sixes and 38 fours.
He only held the record for six months, however, as former West Indies skipper Brian Lara reclaimed it with an innings of 400 not out against England.
Glamorgan have a history of luring high-profile players to the county including Viv Richards and Waqar Younis.
|
Bookmark with:
What are these?