Matt Hayden demands more from Australian top order, says Marnus Labuschagne can’t open

Australian great Matthew Hayden has delivered some home truths to the Test team – demanding more from the team’s openers, and explaining why Marnus Labuschagne isn’t fit for that job.

Robert Craddock

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October 15, 2025 - 11:20AM

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Matt Hayden has called on Australia’s openers to start doing some heavy lifting and revealed why he would not pick Marnus Labuschagne in the role against a dangerous England this summer.

Batting great Hayden said he was “flabbergasted’’ David Warner tipped Australia to win 4-0 because he senses a difficult series ahead and believes Australia’s openers must lift their collective game.

“Our openers have a big part to play and making sure they are doing the heavy lifting – at the moment there is no heavy lifting in the top order,’’ Hayden told former Test teammate Ian Healy on SEN.

Hayden said he had “no idea’’ who would win the contentious opening spot but it should not be Labuschagne.

“I don’t believe any opener is safe. I definitely do not believe Marnus Labuschagne should open.

Matt Hayden has cautioned against Australia promoting Marnus Labuschagne to open. Picture: AFP

“If you are averaging 30 (over the past few years) at number three you cannot expect to go any higher opening. To me Marnus is a number three bat, plain and simple. I definitely don’t think Cameron Green is a number three.

“To me it’s looking like Usman Khawaja (opening) but I would like to see Khawaja under immense pressure in these next three Shield games.

“He got a half century in the first Shield game. That’s good. But I want to see him hungry. I was to see a hundred out of him.’’

Hayden senses this England team are a dangerous foe.

“They (England) have got the arsenal,’’ Hayden said.