Healy tips Hayden to bag MOS at World Cup

Sydney, Feb 4 (UNI) Australian Test great Ian Healy has tipped big hitting Matthew Hayden to win the Player of the Tournament at next month's World Cup in the West Indies as the broad-shouldered opener has the firepower to decimate opposition attacks on flat Caribbean wickets.

The former Australian wicket-keeper said the way Hayden powered his way to a 117-run innings against New Zealand in the ongoing tri-series showed the extent of damage he was capable of doing.

Ironically, Hayden's place in the team was in danger just a few months ago but the comeback performance has firmly brought him back in contention for the World Cup.

''He could really prosper over there. He could even be the player of the tournament if he can keep reproducing the form he showed us last Sunday,'' Healy told 'The Sunday Mail'.

''Traditionally on the Caribbean wickets the best time to bat is early in the innings, so he could do some major damage over there if he can maintain that level.

However, Healy admitted that despite all his powerful hitting, the opener's inconsistent form would never allow him an assured place in the side.

''The way his career has been he could go from borderline selection to player of the tournament in a very short period of time,'' he said.

Hayden has an average of 40 and strike rate of 75.

UNI