Matthew Hayden criticizes Australian coach after batting failures in Melbourne Test

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden heavily criticized Australia’s batting structure and coaching following the team’s defeat in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on December 29, 2025.

Speaking after Australia’s loss to England, Hayden pointed the finger at batting coach Michael. Di Venutoquestioning his long-term influence on the team’s technical development.

Despite already holding an unassailable 3-1 lead in the Ashes series, Australia suffered a resounding defeat by four wickets in just two days. The hosts were dismissed for 152 and 132 on a seam-friendly surface.

Hayden calls Australia scorecard ‘unacceptable’

Speaking on the All Over Bar The Cricket podcast, Hayden didn’t hold back when dissecting Australia’s batting failures. He argued that the pitch conditions were no excuse for the technical shortcomings displayed by the top and middle orders.

“That’s an unacceptable scorecard. I don’t care if it was 50 millimeters of grass. You have to be better than that,” Hayden said. He specifically named Travis Head, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Usman KhawajaAlex Carey And Cameron Green as players appeared “at sea” against fast bowling.

According to Hayden, Australia’s bowlers seemed more technically sound than their batters, a situation he found deeply concerning at Test level.

While emphasizing that it was not a personal attack, the former opener questioned whether Di Venuto’s influence had actually benefited Australia’s Test batting line-up.

“I’m not a fan of him. It’s not a personal thing. I just think for too long there has been an influence in this group around the batting, and I don’t think it has served the development of the team or the technical element of Test cricket,” Hayden said.

He further argued that Australia’s difficulties are not limited to the country’s green wickets, but also extend to conditions overseas, particularly in the subcontinent, where adaptability and refinement of techniques are crucial.

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“You haven’t seen Ricky Ponting hit threes”: Hayden

Hayden highlighted accountability as the missing ingredient in Australia’s approach to batting. He compared the current setup with previous generations led by figures such as Ricky Pontingsuggesting that senior players of the past would not tolerate repeated technical errors.

“You haven’t seen Ricky Ponting batting at three, like Marnus Labuschagne, throwing away his wicket. There’s no chance,” Hayden remarked, adding that former teammates and senior players would have intervened.

He has also criticized what he sees as a rigid condition-based mindset, arguing that players must adapt rather than conform to predefined methods.

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