I have been a long time fan of cricket - particularly Australian cricket - and have generally enjoyed the excellent product Foxtel puts out for the Australian summer, as well as the recent ICC World Cup in India. 

The balance and expertise of the commentary team is by and large excellent, and the analysis is engaging and insightful. In general, I consider that the focus on the game is appropriately levied with occasional light-hearted banter between the members of the commentary team. 

I find myself compelled, however, to mention a significant exception who is making my viewing of Foxtel's product increasingly difficult. I am speaking about Matthew Hayden, whose analysis - where it can be found - I find to be generally very poor, and whose on air demeanour and behaviour I find to be at times altogether intolerable. Being a long time fan of the game, with many friends and acquaintances who share the interest and with whom I discuss the game and the broadcast regularly, I find this to be a widely held opinion.

Times change of course, and I appreciate the impact that T20 in particular had had in creating a product that is perhaps more focussed on entertainment, potentially tilting the balance of the focus in commentary away from careful analysis and more towards banter and jocularity. However, the quality of Matthew Hayden's analysis throughout the 50 over World Cup, his excitable "blokey" platitudes and incessant "banter" with his often seemingly reluctant colleagues forced me to turn the commentary off during his stints and listen to the SEN broadcast instead. 

I appreciate that broadcasters have to cater for and appeal to a range of viewers and consumers, but I am of the firm opinion that Hayden's presence in the commentary box does nothing to elucidate the context and tactics/strategy of the game no matter what a viewer's familiarity with the sport may be. Further, I consider that his participation significantly lowers the quality of the product in general. In saying this, I am well aware that he is a modern great who deserves great respect for his success as an opening batter during a remarkable period of Australian cricket, and I was a committed fan of his during that time. 

It might also be relevant to mention my demographic, and whilst I shudder to think what Richie Benaud would have thought sitting alongside Hayden in the commentary bod, trying to impress upon him Benaud's famous mantra "don't say anything unless you have something to say", I am only 40 years old, and do not consider myself to be a bitter viewer resistant to change and nostalgic for the days of exclusively red ball cricket and the Channel 9 commentary team. Certainly change is necessary, but I could not be more firmly convinced that you have not found an appropriate agent for change in the form of Matthew Hayden. 

Accordingly, for the sake of a product with a proud history in Australia and a reputation to uphold internationally, I propose that Matthew Hayden should no longer be employed by Foxtel or other cricket broadcasters, either in Australia or internationally.