Calcutta: Matthew Hayden was driving to his sons' school in Brisbane when The Telegraph called him on his cellphone.
For the next 25 minutes, on Tuesday, Hayden took questions ranging from his 380 (which is the second-highest individual score in Test cricket) to Ben Stokes.
A terrific opening batsman, Hayden, now 45, finished his Australia career with an average of 50.73 in Tests, 43.80 in ODIs and 51.33 in T20Is.
Awesome by any yardstick.
Excerpts...
Q You seem to be quite busy...
A (Laughs) Yeah... Sometimes I end up wearing many hats during the course of the day, including that of an assistant coach of sorts to my two sons.
Over the years, have you woken up on October 10 feeling any different, for that's the date (in 2003) when you broke Brian Lara's record of the highest individual Test score - 375 at that point in time?
Actually, till you asked, I'd not even thought of it! Of course, I have fond memories... Many memories, in fact... I recall our physio, Errol Walcott, telling me on the morning of the Perth Test that my back was cooked and I couldn't play. I replied that it was my job to say if I'd be playing and his job was (only) to look after me if I did play... I did, for to have said I could miss a Test against Zimbabwe, because of where they were ranked, would have been a terrible attitude to have. Nowadays, even if there's a slight niggle, players get rested.
That wasn't so in your time...
Look at Pat Cummins, who has returned home after the ODIs in India... He's been rested for the ongoing T20Is and I'm sure it's for the right reasons. However, Cummins has missed out on an experience he wouldn't ever get anywhere else. And, let me tell you, experiences teach you a few things.
Getting back to that innings of 380... That Lara took back his record, scoring 400 not out just six months later, must have upset you...
Lara acted like a bloody... How could he overtake me so soon? Seriously, though, records are meant to be broken. It's just that years on, they remain nice talking points. While it definitely feels good to own records, personally, I look back on team performances, not so much personal ones... Getting back to Lara, he's a worthy record holder.
You've mentioned team performances... You must be disappointed with Australia's performances in India... The Test series earlier in the year, the ODIs and in the first T20I, in Ranchi...
More frustrated than disappointed. Australia have been putting in incomplete performances. They've been doing pretty much the right things, but not well enough to get across the line. They could later in the day, in Guwahati.
[Australia, as it turned out, won by all of eight wickets to level the three-match T20I series 1-1.]
Is there a leadership issue?
What do you mean?
Steve Smith, the regular captain across the formats, doesn't give the impression that he's making things happen...
Look, you can't compare Virat Kohli with Smith, for both are very different individuals. Kohli is generally animated, has lots of energy, but being less animated doesn't mean being less keen to win. Kohli had been very animated in the Bangalore Test, but when Ajinkya Rahane captained in the last Test (Dharamsala), one saw he wasn't as animated. Rahane vs Smith would be a more like comparison... David Warner, who is captaining in the T20Is in Smith's absence, is different... He's more emotional, exudes more energy.
[Largely as a precautionary step, Smith returned home after the ODIs. He didn't play the last match, owing to a right shoulder issue.]
What does it take to be a winner in India?
Generally, you need humility... Specifically, there has to be relentless attention to detail and you must stay in the moment. Always.
Your take on Team India?
India have been excellent, finding a way to win matches even if the chips appear to be down... In a way, I'm reminded of the Australia teams I played in... Even if Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting and I got out for less than 10, Michael Clarke and Damien Martyn could get hundreds and, then, the Glenn McGraths would come into the picture... India have been consistent in producing complete performances and, currently, they have batsmen and bowlers who can win matches on their own.
What if Stokes doesn't take part in the upcoming Ashes?
If Stokes cannot travel to Australia, then it would be a huge bonus for us... Stokes is the all-rounder that Australia need... The search continues... Is it going to be Moises Henriques? Could it be Marcus Stoinis? Stokes is invaluable for England.
Even if Stokes travels to Australia, won't he be under enormous pressure, from fans and the media? The pressure of having to deliver too...
Being a professional, Stokes will have to handle it... Look, we've all seen the video, but nobody knows what happened inside the nightclub in Bristol. Just what was the provocation? Nobody has the full picture. So, let's see what the two investigations reveal.
One more... Whether Stokes is there or not, favourites for the Ashes?
(Laughs) In Australia, it has to be Australia.
