U. Vimal Kumar (Malayalam: യു. വിമല്‍ കുമാര്‍) is a former badminton player from Kerala, India. He won the Indian National title consecutively for two years, 1988 and 1989.^[1] He also served as Chief National Coach of India.^[2]

Career[link]

During his career he won prestigious French Open in 1983 & 1984 and Welsh International Open in 1988 & 1991. Vimal also represented India at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, and was ranked within the top 20 in the world. He was the National chief coach of the Indian badminton squad for several years. He quit the post in 2006 to concentrate on coaching youngsters at the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy, where he is the director.^[3]

References[link]

External links[link]

• BWF Player Profile

This biographical article relating to an Indian badminton figure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Vimal is an Indian film actor, who appears in Tamil films. Following cameo appearances in the Vijay-starrer Ghilli and Kuruvi and Ajith Kumar's Kireedam, he played the lead role in Pandiraj's critically acclaimed Pasanga.^[1] Subsequently, he played lead roles in several low-budget productions.

Early life and career[link]

Vimal was born in Pannankombu, a village near Manapparai and later moved to Chennai. He discontinued his studies and began learning dancing and joined the Koothu-P-Pattarai, a theatre group in Chennai.^[2]

While being a part of Koothu-P-Pattarai, Vimal was appearing in uncredited roles in several high-profile Tamil films, including Ghilli (2004), Kireedam (2007) and Kuruvi (2008), starring noted lead actors Vijay and Ajith Kumar. He essayed his first leading role in Pasanga (2008), directed by Pandiraj, in which he played Meenakshisundaram, an insurance agent.^[3] The film won critical acclaim, while his performance was well-received. He next appeared in A. Sarkunam's comedy entertainer Kalavani (2010) which went on to become a Super hit.^[4] His other 2010 film was Maattuthaavani which was long-delayed and went unnoticed. In 2011, he acted in three films, Cloud Nine Movies' Thoonga Nagaram, Eththan and Vaagai Sooda Vaa, which saw him collaborating with A. Sarkunam again. Vaagai Sooda Vaa was a period piece set in the 1960s, with Vimal playing a village teacher named Veluthambi.^[5]

Vimal is currently working on more than half-a-dozen projects. His next release is touted to be Ishtam, a remake of Telugu hit Yemaindhi Ee Vela, in which he plays an urban character for the first time.^[6] He is shooting for comedy films Anaithukkum Aasaipadu and UTV's Kalakalappu under Sundar C's direction that features an ensemble cast.^[7] Vimal has also signed Unmai Sonnal Nesippaya, a film based on real incidents to be directed by newcomer Ravi.^[8] C. S. Amudhan's Rendavathu Padam co-starring Richard Rishi and Aravind Akash.^[9] Besides he has been roped in for two yet-to-be-titled ventures, to be directed by Thirumurugan, who played villain in his film Kalavani, and Padmamagan.^[10]

He appeared in the Indian cricket league advertisement for Chennai Superstars as a stylish batsman.

Personal life[link]

On December 12, 2010, he married his childhood friend Akshaya (Priyadarshini) in a simple manner at the Swamimalai Murugan Temple in Kumbakonam.^[11] Vimal said that he fell in love with Akshaya, who was a relative of Vimal, by mid-June 2009. Since Akshaya's parents did not approve of their love,^[12] the pair decided to elope. The couple have a son.

Filmography[link]

References[link]

Matthew Hayden

Personal information
Full name	Matthew Lawrence Hayden
Born	(1971-10-29) 29 October 1971 (age 40) Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia
Nickname	Haydos, Unit
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Batting style	Left-hand
Bowling style	Right-arm medium
Role	Batsman
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut (cap 359)	4 March 1994 v South Africa
Last Test	3 January 2009 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 111)	19 May 1993 v England
Last ODI	4 March 2008 v India
ODI shirt no.	28
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1991–2009	Queensland
1997	Hampshire
1999–2000	Northamptonshire
2008–2010	Chennai Super Kings
2011 –	Brisbane Heat
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODIs	FC	List A
Matches	103	161	295	308
Runs scored	8,625	6,133	24,603	12,051
Batting average	50.73	43.80	52.57	44.63
100s/50s	30/29	10/36	79/100	27/67
Top score	380	181*	380	181*
Balls bowled	54	6	1,097	339
Wickets	0	0	17	10
Bowling average	–	–	39.47	35.80
5 wickets in innings	0	0	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	0	n/a
Best bowling	0/7	0/18	3/10	2/16
Catches/stumpings	128/–	68/–	296/–	129/–
Source: CricketArchive, 17 January 2009

Matthew Lawrence Hayden AM (born 29 October 1971) is a former Australian cricketer, and was signed to the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL until the 2010 season. Hayden is a powerful and aggressive left-handed opening batsman, known for his ability to score quickly at both Test and one day levels.

Hayden holds the record for the highest score made by an Australian batsman in Tests (380). He formed one of the most prolific opening partnerships in world Test cricket for Australia with Justin Langer,^[1] and in ODI cricket with Adam Gilchrist. Upon his retirement, in January 2009, Hayden's Test average was 50.7; he had scored the second most runs in Test Cricket by an opening batsman; and was equal 6th (with Jacques Kallis) on the all-time list for Test centuries.

Cricket career[link]

Test career[link]

Hayden made his debut for the Australian team in the 4–8 March 1994 Test Match against South Africa in Johannesburg, scoring 15 and 5.^[2] His next Test selection was in the 1996–97 season, with three tests each against the West Indies and South Africa. He made his maiden century (125 against the West Indies in Adelaide), but averaged only 21.7 for the series with two ducks. He was dropped from the team, as the selectors favoured other openers, in particular Mark Taylor and Matthew Elliott, for the next few years. At the time, he was compared occasionally to Graeme Hick, a fine domestic performer but not quite good enough to make it at the highest level.

During these years, Hayden was a prolific batsman for the Queensland first-class cricket team. Weight of domestic cricket runs, and persistence, resulted in a resurrection of his international career for the 1999-00 tour of New Zealand. In the subsequent 2000–01 tour of India, he scored 549 runs, an Australian record for a three-Test series, at 109.80. After that, he was an automatic selection for the Test side. He scored over 1,000 Test runs in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, the first man to achieve the feat five times. He was selected as one of Wisden's five 2003 Cricketers of the Year.

In the first innings of the First Test against Zimbabwe on 10 October 2003 at the WACA, Hayden scored 380 runs from only 437 balls to set a new world record for an individual Test innings, passing the previous record of Brian Lara (375), set in April 1994. Hayden's total remained the record until 12 April 2004, when Lara scored 400 not out. As of December 2011, it remains the second-highest innings in Test history, and is the highest ever by an Australian.

Hayden suffered a considerable form-slump towards the end of 2004, and went for sixteen consecutive tests without scoring a century. This continued into the highly anticipated 2005 Ashes, where Hayden averaged only 35.33 across the five-match series, which put pressure on his position in the team; a hard-fought 138 from 303 balls in the Fifth Test at The Oval arguably saved his career. This signalled a return to form for Hayden for the 2005/06 season, and he scored centuries in four consecutive Tests, including the Oval Test, then home Tests against the ICC World XI and West Indies.

Hayden's form in the 2006-07 Ashes series against England was average; he failed to reach 40 in the first three innings of the series, but again returned to form with scores of 92 in Perth, and 153 in the Boxing Day Test. He performed well the following summer against India, with three centuries in the four tests, to bring his career total to thirty centuries.

The 2008–09 season was Hayden's final season of Test cricket. In nine Tests against India, New Zealand and South Africa, Hayden managed only 383 runs at 23.94, with two half-centuries and three ducks. His career ended when he was dropped for the 2008–09 tour of South Africa in place of young opener Phillip Hughes. He finished his test career with 8625 runs at an average of 50.73.

Hayden's most notable opening batting partner was Justin Langer. The opening pair represented Australia in more than 100 Test innings.^[3] The pair made 5654 runs while batting together in opening partnerships, with an average of 51 runs per partnership; as of December 2011, only Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes of the West Indies have scored more Test runs as an opening partnership, with 6,482.^[4]

Hayden was a regular and successful slip fielder for Australia, and he took 128 catches during his Test career.

ODI[link]

Hayden played as an opening batsman in the Australian team in 160 ODIs throughout his career. He made his ODI debut for Australia in 1993 against England, but after playing 13 ODIs in 1993 and 1994, he was dropped from the team until 2000.

Hayden played in the Australian side that won the 2003 One Day International Cricket World Cup. He was dropped from the ODI squad because of poor form after The Ashes in 2005, but returned to the Australian squad in the 2006–07 Australian season after Simon Katich fell out of favour and Shane Watson was injured.

On 20 February 2007, Matthew Hayden posted his highest ODI score (181 not out) against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton. It was the highest ODI innings ever by an Australian which at the time gave him the unique distinction of holding both the test and ODI record scores for an Australian batsman until it was broken by Shane Watson's 185* in 2011.^[5]

He dominated the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies as the tournament's best batsman, scoring three centuries before the completion of the Super 8s section of the tournament; he was only the third person (the previous being Mark Waugh and Sourav Ganguly). The century against South Africa came off just 66 balls and broke John Davison's record for the fastest century in a World Cup.^[6] The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis awarded Hayden with honorary citizenship after the match. His record was broken by Irish batsman Kevin O'Brien in the 2011 World Cup when he struck a century off of 50 balls against England. Hayden also became only the second player in World Cup history to surpass 600 runs in a single tournament; he scored 659 runs for the tournament at an average of 73.22. In September 2007, Hayden was named ODI Player of the Year after his dominating performance throughout the World Cup.^[7]

Hayden played only one more season of ODI cricket, his last match for Australia being the second final of the 2007–08 Commonwealth Bank Series.

First-Class Career[link]

Hayden played Sheffield Shield cricket for Queensland, playing 101 matches, and scoring 8831 runs at an average of 54.85. He also played in the English County Championship, first with Hampshire in 1997 and prominently as captain of Northamptonshire in 1999–2000; his County record is 3461 runs at 55.82. Hayden's first class career yielded 24,603 runs at an average of 52.57.

Twenty20[link]

Hayden played nine Twenty20 Internationals for Australia, including the 2007 ICC World Twenty20. He was the tournament's top scorer, with 265 runs.

Matthew Hayden played for the Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) in April 2008, contracted for $375,000. Hayden became one of the foremost players in the league, and in 2009 won the Orange Cap as the season's highest run-scorer, with 572.

In 2011–12, Hayden resigned from his positions on the Queensland and Australian cricket boards to take part for the Brisbane Heat in Australia's Big Bash League.

On 11 March 2010, Hayden announced his intention to use the Mongoose Cricket Bat, a bat specially tailored to the needs of Twenty20 cricket, during the 2010 IPL. Reactions to the bat were mixed. Stuart Law said that he would think 'twice' before using the Mongoose, while MS Dhoni said in his column that he believed in Hayden's ability 'no matter what means he uses'. After a quiet start to the third edition of the IPL, Hayden made a blistering 93 off 43 deliveries to kickstart his campaign.^[8]

Controversies[link]

In the 2003 New Year's Test in Sydney against England, Hayden smashed a pavilion window in anger, after disagreeing with an umpire's decision to give him out. He was fined for this incident.

He was a party to the controversy that emerged from the Second Test, 2007-08 Border-Gavaskar Trophy racism charges pressed by Australia against India, and was one of the witnesses for Andrew Symonds's charges against Harbhajan Singh. As a fallout of that instance in February 2008, Hayden was charged for a code of conduct violation by Cricket Australia, for calling the Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh an obnoxious little weed, and for inviting Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma for a boxing bout, during an interview aired on Brisbane radio station; he was also heard to mimic Sharma's Indian accent in this exchange.^[9] He was reprimanded for his comment by Cricket Australia,^[10] but maintained his innocence.^[11]

He was strongly criticized by the BCCI and former Pakistan team captain Wasim Akram for reportedly calling India a third world country.^[12] Back home after a 2–0 series defeat by India, Hayden spoke about what he perceived to be poor ground conditions and inordinate delays during the matches "that happen in Third World countries".^[13] However, Hayden defended his remarks.^[14]

Retirement[link]

On 13 January 2009, Hayden held a press conference at The Gabba and officially announced his retirement from representative cricket.^[15] The announcement followed a series of relatively poor performances in New Zealand and South Africa's tour of Australia, in which he failed to pass fifteen runs in nine innings.^[16] Paying tribute on his retirement, Hayden was hailed by teammates Ricky Ponting^[17] and Justin Langer as being the greatest ever opener from Australia.^[18] Hayden was recognised as statistically the best opener ever produced by the country.^[19]

Other[link]

Hayden has also been working with Cricket Australia in raising the profile of cricket among the indigenous population of Australia. In 2010, he captained the Indigenous All-stars XI against the ACA Masters XI as part of the Imparja Cup held in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Hayden is also an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (www.aief.com.au).

Matthew Hayden was also the captain of the Fans' XI on 21 November 2010. He decided to bowl the final over, and, with the All Stars needing 6 to win on the final ball, Hayden bowled a Leg-break to get his only 20 – 20 wicket, the Fans' XI winning by 6 runs.

The Australian version of The Lifestyle Channel began screening Matthew Hayden's Home Ground in June 2010.

Personal life[link]

• In 2000, Hayden's boat capsized whilst sailing near North Stradbroke Island; he and his two companions (one of whom was Queensland and Australian teammate Andrew Symonds) were forced to swim a kilometre to safety.^[20] Hayden subsequently appeared in a campaign promoting marine safety.^[21]

• In his spare time, Hayden is a keen cook and occasionally prepares meals for his team-mates while on tour. A collection of his recipes was published in Australia in 2004 as The Matthew Hayden Cookbook. A second book, The Matthew Hayden Cookbook 2, was published in 2006.

• Prior to using a Mongoose, Hayden used a Gray-Nicolls bat with a fluorescent pink grip, to highlight and support research into a cure for breast cancer. This is at least in part inspired by his team-mate Glenn McGrath's wife struggle with this illness.^[22]

• He is married to Kellie Hayden (née Culey), and they have a daughter named Grace (born June 2002), and two sons named Joshua (born 15 April 2005) and Thomas Joseph (born May 2007).^[23]

• Hayden is a devout Roman Catholic and says "When I’m in trouble, I ask: ‘What would Christ do?'" and he crosses himself after reaching a century.^[24]

• He is patron of Parent Project Australia, a charity fighting for a cure for duchenne muscular dystrophy.

• Hayden was an Ambassador for World Youth Day 2008.

• Hayden was awarded the Australian Sports Medal on 14 July 2000.^[25]

• On 26 January 2010 he was appointed an Member of the Order of Australia for service to cricket, and to the community through support for a range of health, youth and charitable organisations.^[26]

See also[link]

• List of international cricket centuries by Matthew Hayden

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Matthew Hayden

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Matthew Hayden

• Player profile: Matthew Hayden from ESPNcricinfo

v t e Australia squad – 2003 Cricket World Cup (3rd title) 4 Gillespie 11 McGrath 12 Bevan 14 Ponting (c) 18 Gilchrist 25 Lehmann 28 Hayden 29 Harvey 30 Martyn 31 Hogg 34 Bichel 39 Symonds 43 Hauritz 46 Maher 58 Lee 59 Bracken Coach: Buchanan Jason Gillespie, Shane Warne and Shane Watson were named in the original squad but withdrew from the tournament

v t e Australia squad – 2007 Cricket World Cup (4th title) 8 Clark 11 McGrath 14 Ponting (c) 17 Hodge 18 Gilchrist 23 Clarke 25 Johnson 28 Hayden 31 Hogg 32 Tait 33 Watson 48 Hussey 57 Haddin 59 Bracken 63 Symonds Coach: Buchanan Brett Lee was replaced due to injury by Stuart Clark.

v t e Australia squad – 2007 ICC World Twenty20 Semi-Finalists 8 Clark 14 Ponting (c) 17 Hodge 18 Gilchrist 23 Clarke 25 Johnson 28 Hayden 29 Hilfenhaus 31 Hogg 33 Watson 48 Hussey 57 Haddin 58 Lee 59 Bracken 63 Symonds Shaun Tait was named in the original squad but was later ruled out after elbow surgery; he was replaced by Ben Hilfenhaus.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2010)

Michael Kasprowicz

Personal information
Full name	Michael Scott Kasprowicz
Born	(1972-02-10) 10 February 1972 (age 40) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Nickname	Kasper
Height	6 ft 4.5 in (1.94 m)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right-arm fast-medium
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut (cap 369)	22 November 1996 v West Indies
Last Test	4 April 2006 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 125)	19 December 1995 v West Indies
Last ODI	12 July 2005 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1989–2008	Queensland
2002–2004	Glamorgan
1999	Leicestershire
1994	Essex
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	38	43	237	220
Runs scored	445	74	4342	955
Batting average	10.59	18.50	17.72	14.46
100s/50s	0/0	0/0	0/11	0/0
Top score	25	28*	92	40
Balls bowled	7140	2225	48552	10790
Wickets	113	67	944	293
Bowling average	32.88	24.98	26.52	26.51
5 wickets in innings	4	2	51	3
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	6	n/a
Best bowling	7/36	5/45	9/36	5/45
Catches/stumpings	16/–	13/–	95/–	47/–
Source: Cricinfo, 13 September 2007

Michael Scott Kasprowicz (born 10 February 1972) is a former Australian Test cricketer. He is a right arm fast bowler, effective outfielder and useful lower order batsman, and has enjoyed a successful career both in Australia and in the English county scene since making his debut for Queensland as a seventeen year old in the 1989–1990 domestic season. He was an AIS Australian Cricket Academy scholarship holder in 1990-1991.^[1] Kasprowicz was one of the top performing fast bowlers in Australian cricket over the past decade,^{[citation needed]} and his solid performances for Queensland earned him a Test debut against West Indies in his native Brisbane in November 1996. However, he would go through his first two Test matches for Australia wicketless.

The start to his international career was patchy and resulted in his omission from the Australian team,^{[citation needed]} but his performances for Queensland and various counties in England meant he stayed in the eyes of the national selectors. After being in and out of the side since his debut, Kasprowicz returned in 2004 to hold down a regular spot ahead of Brett Lee. To highlight his return to the team, Kasprowicz enjoyed a successful 2004, capturing an impressive 47 Test wickets for the calendar year.

After the 2005 Ashes loss to England, Kasprowicz was dropped from the Australian team and his Cricket Australia contract was not extended. However, he had a successful 2005/06 domestic season with Queensland, taking 44 wickets. This effort earned him a tenth recall to the national side to replace Glenn McGrath as Brett Lee's new ball partner. McGrath had stayed home from the South Africa tour after his wife's recurrence of cancer.^{[citation needed]}

Kasprowicz represents Mumbai Champs in the Indian Cricket League. Kasprowicz's name was not added to the list of national contract awardees announced by the ACB on 1 May 2007,^[2] and on 8 February 2008 he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket effective 16 February.^[3]

Career highlights[link]

Kasprowicz was known for his swing and relentless and hard-working approach, and was particularly known for his contributions in 2004 to Australia's success in the Indian subcontinent, where they had struggled in the past, especially with pace bowling. He was also called the "Subcontinent Specialist",for his unique ability to generate considerable amounts of pace from subdued tracks and in the process picking up regular wickets. Kasprowicz played in all the Tests on the tours of Sri Lanka and India, which were won 3–0 and 2–1. Australia had not won a Test series in India for 34 years until then, and their whitewash of Sri Lanka contrasted with their previous two tours there, which ended 1–0 and 0–1.

Tests[link]

• Kasprowicz's best Test batting score of 25 was made against India, Kolkata, 1997–1998
• His best Test bowling figures of 7 for 36 came against England, The Oval, 1997

One-day internationals[link]

• Kasprowicz's best ODI batting score of 28 not out was made against England, Lord's, 1997
• His best ODI bowling figures of 5 for 45 came against Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2003–2004

References[link]

External links[link]

• Cricinfo profile on Michael Kasprowicz
• HowSTAT! statistical profile on Michael Kasprowicz