"It was quite tricky to bat on," the left-handed opener said on Wednesday evening. "The ball held on the wicket, it bounced a little. The hardest conditions were at the start of the day, from overs nought through 30. Then we found ways to get out. It was a difficult pitch to bat on, and I expect it to be that way throughout the game. That's why we had decided that the best way forward would be to bat first if we won the toss.
"I was trying to be as passive with my attacking play as possible at the start," added Hayden. "Phil (Jaques) and I worked out that since most of the fielders were behind the stumps, we would go through with our shots when the ball was pitched up. But it was calculated under the circumstances." It was Hayden's fourth Test hundred in 12 Tests against India. "I don't know if there is anything about their bowling I like," he offered. "But I really enjoy playing spin, and a majority of the overs today were spin overs. My partnership with Phil was significant. The conditions were tough, and it will be more difficult to score as the match progresses. It's very, very hard to score on, and it will be so over the next three days. We will try and put pressure on India with in-out fields, try and constrict them because I think the wicket will deteriorate."
Hayden enacted an elaborate celebratory routine after reaching three-figures. "I really enjoy this venue. There is a good vibe around the ground, the spirit of Christmas. This is the stage, it's all about the people. I felt it was worthy of that kind of celebration. It was one of my best hundreds, I was pretty pumped up."
Generous in his praise of Anil Kumble, Hayden observed, "He is right up there with Warnie and Murali. He is such an unusual bowler. He is unorthodox in that he doesn't turn it a great deal. His venomous balls are the toppie and the wrong 'un. He gets a lot more bounce than most bowlers, though today, he didn't have that help. But champion bowlers produce champion results in all conditions. There was a pat on the back too for Zaheer Khan. "He has bowled particularly well in the last year or so, he was quite challenging in the conditions.”