Standing my ground. Matthew Hayden. 2020.

Matthew Hayden was one of the most commanding batsmen the game has ever seen - and one of its great enigmas. A devout Catholic, and a ruthless on-field sledges. A brutal enforcer, and a soft-hearted family man. The Australian record-holder for highest score in Tests and One Day Internationals, who was at times troubled by self-doubt and doubters.

In Standing my Ground Hayden confronts these contradictions head-on. He talks frankly about the forces that shaped his journey from fringe international to a giant of the game. 

This isn’t a predictable ball-by-ball account of a stellar career. Instead, Hayden delivers a characteristically direct assessment of the matches and the people that mattered most. He pays homage to great role models like Allan Borders and explains his deep connection to controversial Andrew Simonds, but also reveals colourful clashes along the way.