IPL can bring in significant changes, says Hayden

Veteran Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden says the Indian Premier League has the potential to effect "significant changes" in world cricket.

Hayden, bought by the Chennai franchise of the IPL, said since the Indian venture was based on Twenty20 concept it would provide ample entertainment to the fans.

"It's a game which gives all the players the chance to be part of a competition to ignite cricket," Hayden was quoted as saying in 'The Australian.'

"I get the feeling that the IPL and other Twenty20 competitions will lead to significant changes in cricket, not dissimilar to the way Super 14s has moved rugby forward," he added.

The leading run-scorer in last year's Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, Hayden said the exciting nature of the game would woo more crowds in future.

"This is going to have significant implications in the way cricket will be viewed and played.

"If I was a consumer of the game I would want to go and see it because it's bloody exciting.

"It's still got all the skills. When players start to really get amongst this game and start specifically training for it, it can only get better."

Hayden said he loved his role of pinch-hitting in Twenty20 cricket.

"I am employed to pinch-hit, so the elements I have been working on in my batting over the years have been boundary hitting, power hitting," he said.

"I have adapted my game to become a power athlete over time. And that's why I reckon Australia has been the dominant side in 50-overs cricket. Our batting line-up is full of power hitters, with the odd touch player like a Michael Clarke or a Michael Hussey.

"I've got a pretty good idea how I want to play it (Twenty20) after the Twenty20 World Cup," Hayden said.

While backing shorter versions of cricket, Hayden, however, was critical of the ongoing tri-series in Australia.

"This current structure with the tri-nations is a really tired system.

"I am really looking forward to the new structure in one-day cricket where you will feel more like you have got something on the line each game, rather than having two or three dead rubbers going into the finals if a side dominates," he said.