Former CSK Opener Dons New Hat, Becomes Trade Envoy to Boost Ties Between India & Australia

Former Australia and CSK opener Matthew Hayden has landed a new job, and has become the trade envoy for developing ties with India, according to a report in Mail Online. He has been appointed in the board of Australia-India Council, that aims at improving relations and trade between the two nations.

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Hayden is a well know name in India, and also played in the IPL for CSK, for a few years, where he scored heavily. The move is seen as a bid to improve relations with India amid tensions with China, their largest trade partner. Back in 2010, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to cricket and community.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne welcomed Hayden's appointment in a statement on Monday.

He was always a prominent member of CSK, and one of his fondest memories with the team was when he smashed 93 in just 43 deliveries using the unique bat in a 2010 game against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). Even Suresh Raina picked it as his favourite moment with the CSK.

Raina was leading CSK in that game. "I want to say one good inning of your's against Delhi. You scored 93 with that mongoose bat. Every ball was going out of the park. You played so well on that particular wicket because the wicket was turning and Delhi played so really well. They scored 190 or 185 something and you were looking so solid," Raina had told Hayden in a video posted on his Twitter handle.

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"We had a good partnership, I scored 49 in that game. I was captaining the side, you made me believe we can win from that situation. That was a very very good knock of yours. I still have the signed bat that you gave to me. I'm gonna share it with you, I hope you remember the autograph that you gave me," he added.