West Indies captain Brian Lara has paid tribute to Matthew Hayden after the Australian broke his record for the highest Test score of all time. On day two against Zimbabwe at the Waca, Hayden posted 380 runs - eclipising the 375 Lara scored against England nine years ago.
"I will always be grateful to have been chosen to hold the Test record for nearly 10 years and to belong to the elite group of batsmen who have headed the all-time scoring list," said Lara, who phoned Hayden to congratulate him.
"A standard has been set which we must strive to achieve to pass. I wish Matthew and his family peace and happiness."
Hayden said the motivation of his baggy green cap and the anniversary of the Bali bombings propelled him to his monumental score.
All the players wore armbands in memory of the 202 people, including 88 Australians, killed in Bali on 12 October last year.
"Those two things, the black armbands and the baggy green just kept me going today," said Hayden, who had earlier swept past the Australian record of 334 jointly held by former Test captains Sir Don Bradman and Mark Taylor.
 Lara's 375 against England in 1994 has been relegated to second place |
"I hope it is something that will bring some joy to those involved in the Bali tragedy at what must be a difficult time for them."
Hayden removed his protective helmet towards the end of his mammoth innings, preferring to don his beloved baggy green cap.
"I got mine sent in the mail in 1993 and I wore it to bed that night," he said.
"There's many times I've looked at it wondering if I would get back into the Australia team so it is very special to me."
Taylor famously declared an innings against Pakistan in 1998 when he had equalled Bradman's score, but Hayden admitted it did not concern him.
"Overtaking Bradman sits uncomfortably, and so it should, but I was never haunted by the record as I'm sure he would have had an enormous amount of respect for anyone who reached it," he said.
"And we all wear the same baggy green."
Hayden admitted to feeling calm at the crease and that he was destined for a big score.
"A moment like this never really sinks in," he said.
"It's for euphoric moments like this you play cricket. This was a really special event, it's hard to describe a feeling but I will cherish it.
"You are almost in a vacuum, time shreds away and runs are just a consequence.
"I just had an overwhelming feeling of batting for a long time."
MMIX
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The record for Matthew is a testament to Australian cricket and their fast pace of play 
