Hayden inspires Turner innings

ASHTON Turner was calm and confident while completing Australia’s greatest ODI chase but the same can’t be said of his nerves during regular chats with Matthew Hayden on the current tour of India.

Referred to as “that guy” by Shikhar Dhawan during India’s post-match conference, Turner has taken just two ODIs to make a name for himself in international cricket.

He produced an incredible 43-ball knock of 84 not out to deliver a four-wicket victory in Chandigarh, reprising the finisher role he perfected in the Big Bash League.

The 26-year-old marched Australia from 4-229 in the 37th over to a victorious 6-359 in the 48th, smacking six sixes.

Hayden is commentating during the series and has been a regular at Australian training, helping Turner and others hone their craft.

“Haydos has been great to me, I was really privileged to get my cap presented by Haydos in Hyderabad,” Turner said.

“I’m still nervous standing around and talking with him.

“He’s spent a lot of time with me in the nets. He was a brilliant player of spin bowling, especially over here in India.

“It’s great to just sit down and talk batting with him, he’s a legend and someone I always looked up to.”

Hayden excelled in India like few other Australians during his stellar career, memorably mastering the sweep shot to top the batting charts during the 2001 Test tour.

Turner’s extraordinary dig came on a far more batsmanfriendly pitch than those dusty decks encountered by Hayden.

But the way he attacked the top-ranked ODI bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah, and swing king Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the death was nonetheless staggering.

“I’ve had a great opportunity to hit lots of balls in the nets and get used to these conditions behind the scenes; I had a lot of confidence I was ready,” Turner said.

Peter Handscomb described Turner’s effort as phenomenal, Aaron Finch used “world class”.

“Ashton played a hell of a knock … Ashton’s inning was the game-changer,” India skipper Virat Kohli conceded.