Langer and Hayden surpass Australian greats

Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden's fourth double-century stand, against South Africa here today, have made them statistically Australian cricket's greatest opening pair.

And they are now in the exalted class of the mighty West Indian combination of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes.

While Greenidge and Haynes, the most prolific opening combination in the history of cricket, took 10 years to amass their four double-century stands from 1979-80 to 1989-90, the Australians have done it in one season.

The two left handers passed 1,000 runs in their 10th innings together and now have 1,125 runs at an average of 112.50. That's easily the best of the nine combinations which have scored more than 1,000 runs.

The next best average of 63.75 belongs to Australians Bill Brown and Jack Fingleton who made 1,020 runs together in 16 innings.

Langer and Hayden are now the third-best left-handed opening pair in cricket history, behind Kiwi combination John Wright and Bruce Edgar and Pakistanis Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar. Wright and Edgar made 1,655 runs at 31.83 in 56 innings while Sohail and Anwar have made 1,563 runs at 44.66 in 37 innings.

Langer and Hayden gave Australia a flying start with a 219-run opening partnership on the opening day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground to surpass the scoring exploits of Bob Simpson-Bill Lawry and Mark Taylor-Michael Slater, who both compiled three double-century stands.

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Mail Cricket Editor