Cricket: Untimely curse strikes Australia's superbat

By RICHARD BOOCK in Port Elizabeth

Mathew Hayden is trying to push his frustrations into the background as he searches for the form that made him so successful before the World Cup.

Having taken the test and one-day scene by storm over the past couple of summers, Australia's prolific left-handed opener has been unable to continue his momentum at the World Cup, resulting in an expletive-laden outburst in the Centurion nets last week.

Frustrated at his lack of timing, Hayden erupted after a series of false shots, the normally genial Queenslander cursing himself loudly and roundly in front of a packed gallery of interested bystanders.

His tournament has not been a complete waste with consecutive scores of 27, 45 not out, 33, 34, 88 (v Namibia), 1 and 22. But by Hayden's standards the results have been lean enough to cause him a few nights of soul-searching.

"I wasn't happy with the way I was playing the pull shot," he said of the blow-up at Centurion. "I was getting so frustrated. It's a benchmark shot of mine but I've been hitting the ball too early because it is so slow over here.

"It's something I have to get used to. I've felt in good touch but feelings don't count for much at this level. Scoring big totals is something I've come to expect and everyone has come to expect - so hopefully the next one is around the corner."

Hayden said it was important he did not too carried away with addressing his own concerns rather than concentrating on what was best for the team.

"I'm without a big score but the further you try to chase a big score the further you get away from it. I've been happy with my processes but it hasn't come off yet.

"My goal is to make sure I am full of purpose and intent, and get the side off to a good start without worrying too much about my own performance."

His other main concern is the likely pace of the St George's Park pitch, which played extremely slow against England and is tipped to be similarly paced for tonight's Super Six showdown against New Zealand.

New Zealand are reasonably well-equipped to harness any lethargy in the pitch through slow bowlers Daniel Vettori and Chris Harris and medium-pacer Scott Styris, and are also used to the approach needed on a slow track.

The point has not been lost on Hayden, who yesterday sounded a general warning to his team-mates that they will have to be in some of their best form if they want to maintain their unbeaten record.

"New Zealand are a side that tends to take pace off the ball, which is a threat to us, especially as we're playing in conditions that are slow and low - as they were for the game against England. We are going to have to be on top of our game.

"New Zealand have a very steady attack and have picked up a strike bowler in Shane Bond, who has bowled pretty well for the last couple of years. Daniel Vettori always bowls well against us. They're the keys to the New Zealand attack."

But as useful as he thought New Zealand were Hayden only had the highest praise for his own team, who continue to set the pace in the cup and are odds-on to defend their title at the Wanderers in the March 23 final.

"This is a tremendous cricket side. Every game we play in South Africa we have to adapt our style because these are not the sort of conditions that suit our game. The slowness possibly affects us more than anyone else because when you have got a great fast bowling attack, it tends to take the edge off them."

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