Hayden out to continue dream run in India

Hyderabad: Prolific Australian opener Matthew Hayden says he is eager to extend his dream run in India in the upcoming Test series.

The left-hander was a revelation when he first visited the country with Steve Waugh's side in 2001, scoring 549 runs in three Tests with two hundreds and as many half-centuries at an average of 109.80.

"The Indian series is one of the great challenges in cricket and I feel up to it mentally," Hayden told reporters here Tuesday evening ahead of the four-Test series starting in Bangalore on October 9.

"I am feeling very comfortable and confident with my game at the moment. The previous tours here have been actually the greatest preparation for me."

Hayden, who has averaged 61 in seven Tests in India, was one of the few Australia batsmen to master the spin on low, slow pitches as he used the sweep shot to a telling effect.

"That (the sweep) was something I practised a lot for the previous series as the scoring shot against spinners. It has worked very well for me and I will continue to do that," said Hayden, who turns 37 this month.

"Being at the spin camp in Chennai in the late 1990s helped me. It was very useful. From that experience, I was able to formulate a game plan and batting strategy on what is the mindset of a spinner.

"I practised a variety of shots, tried out lots of options and planned my game against spin."

Hayden said patience was the key to success on the Indian tracks.

"It is going to be very interesting. In India, the game can seem to meander for quite a while before suddenly changing in a session," said Hayden, who has so far scored 8,242 runs in 94 Tests with 30 centuries.

"So patience is very important to succeed here."

Hayden said he did not believe he was underprepared for the series after missing his team's previous tour of the West Indies due to an injury.

"I did not play in the West Indies series, but I am back from injury and have worked hard. I have had success in India, so I am feeling pretty confident," he said.

Ricky Ponting's Australians open the tour with a four-day practice match against an Indian Board President's team here on Thursday.

The Bangalore Test will be followed by matches in Mohali, New Delhi and Nagpur.

Australia clinched the four-match series 2-1 on their previous tour in 2004, their first success in India in 35 years.