Hayden wants to be a role model for Gen Next

Sydney, June 29 (UNI) After surprising many by not following in the retirement path of mates Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, World Cup's highest scorer Matthew Hayden wants to leave behind a rich legacy as a role model for all Oz players to follow.

At 36 and still going strong, the broad-shouldered Queenslander has set his sights on helping to usher in a new era of dominance for Australian cricket after dismissing talk of international retirement.

''I want to instil into the next generation of players how much an older player loves the game,'' Hayden said.

''I want to instil a culture that will hopefully benefit and leave a legacy for the players,'' he added.

With an extremely busy schedule for Australia with to 27 Tests, 50 one-day internationals and a dozen Twenty20 matches planned over the next 18 months, Hayden is undetered and seems all the more hungry to lead the Aussie juggernaut.

''I will give myself the best chance to do it,'' Hayden told Herald-Sun.

''It's as big a year as anyone has ever had in cricket.

''I am in such a privileged position at the moment. I not only feel at the top of my game but I also love it and I am in a great position to be a role model,'' the big-hitting left hander said.

Many thought Hayden would be tempted to follow McGrath and Warne into retirement even as he guided Australia to a third straight in the Caribbean, ending up as the top-scorer at World Cup, amassing three centuries and no fewer than 659 runs.

UNI