Former Test opener Matthew Hayden has taken aim at ex-Australian captain Ian Chappell for his scathing assessment of one-day skipper George Bailey’s baggy green prospects.
Bailey seemed unfazed by Chappell’s view that his technique was not up to Test standard after flying into Brisbane on Monday fresh from his remarkable haul of 478 runs at 95.6 in Australia’s 3-2 one-day series loss to India.
He will hope to stake another Test No.6 claim in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland at the batsman-friendly Allan Border Field starting on Wednesday.
“I don’t think Ian has ever been a big fan of the way I play the game so there’s no surprises there,” Bailey said.
“He is entitled to his opinion.
“To be honest, I don’t take that as personally as the people who say I should be in the team.”
But Hayden was not as forgiving, returning serve on social media.
Hayden could empathise with the much-maligned Bailey after finally fulfilling his potential with a stunning 2000-01 tour of India to eventually amass 8625 at 50.73 in 103 Tests.
“Chappell had the same view of me as well, limited, slow between wickets, 1 paced and poor player of spin #bailey,” Hayden tweeted.
“Bailey #stringtobow leadership, calmness and a bloody smile. Clarke Rogers and Bailey first batsman picked in my books. #hope #Watto fit.”
In his latest criticism of Bailey, Chappell wrote in his weekend News Corp Australia newspaper column that not picking the Tasmanian for this month’s Ashes opening Test at the Gabba was “the correct move”.
“A selector has to look past the number of runs (in India) and see the batsmanship,” he wrote.
“Bailey … is a batsman who’s restricted through the cover region, can be stifled by good spinners and is troubled by well-directed short-pitched bowling.
“His moderate first-class record and those limitations are not a good template for a Test batsman.”
Bailey averaged a modest 18 in Shield cricket last season but admitted he was in the form of his life after his head-turning one-day stint on the subcontinent.
Asked if he felt he was constantly striving to prove himself to critics, Bailey said: “Who are you trying to prove yourself to?
“I don’t understand that (line of thinking).”