Matthew Hayden was one of the most commanding batsmen the game has ever seen ? and one of its great enigmas. A devout Catholic, and a ruthless on-field sledger. A brutal enforcer, and a soft-hearted family man. The Australian record-holder for highest score in Tests and One Day Internationals, who was plagued by insecurities. In Standing My Ground, Hayden confronts these contradictions head-on. He talks frankly about the forces that shaped his journey. He dissects Australia's tactic of verbal warfare and his own role as a key aggressor. This isn't a predictable ball-by-ball account of a stellar career. Instead, Hayden delivers a characteristically direct assessment of the matches and the people that mattered most. He opens up on umpires, the media, superstitions, teammates and opponents with disarming honesty and humour. Here is the superstar batsman, the surfer, fisherman and chef in a book as bold and powerful as the man himself. About The Author: Champion cricketer Matthew Hayden, now playing with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, is a powerful and aggressive batsman, known for his ability to score quickly at both Test and one-day levels. He formed one of the most prolific opening partnerships in Test cricket for Australia with Justin Langer, and in ODI cricket with Adam Gilchrist. Hayden is also a TV personality, cookbook author, and an ambassador for Queensland, Aboriginal cricket and charitable organisations.