Melbourne, Jan. 14 : Cricket commentator Peter Roebuck is of the view that Matthew Hayden's decision to retire from all forms of the game will provoke relief among long-suffering bowlers.

He further goes on to say that in some eyes, Hayden was the epitome of hard-nosed Australia, a label he seemed happy to wear. However, closer inspection revealed a warmer nature.

"Among comrades he commanded affection; opponents felt only fear and, occasionally, resentment. Hayden started later than his contemporaries and wanted to last longer. Strong of mind and body, he hoped to play another Ashes series this year, to score a few more hundreds, to end in a blaze. It was not to be," says Roebuck in his article for The Age.

Throughout 2008, he looked out of sorts, a player past his time searching for his path. It all happened so quickly.

"In 2007-08, he was the powerhouse of the batting. A year later, he seemed too old for the company he was keeping. Naturally, he waited for another revival, but this time the root cause was not technical but mental. His mind was telling him it was over," says Roebuck.

He says that Hayden's contribution to Australia and world cricket has been nothing short of extraordinary, especially when it has to be considered that he was patronised in his early years, and had several false starts as he tried to adjust his game to Test cricket.

"A secretly sensitive man, he felt uncomfortable in the teams led by Mark Taylor and, accordingly, tried to make the right impression. Of course, it did not work. Every man has his voice, distance, pace and role. Not until Steve Waugh took charge did confidence return," says Roebuck.

"Waugh believed in him, and so Hayden became himself. Ponting had faith in him, too, and retained it through his loss of form in the 2005 Ashes series. Both captains were well rewarded," he adds. (ANI)