Cricket world reacts amid major news about Matthew Hayden’s daughter Grace

Cricket fans are expressing their excitement after Grace Hayden revealed she’ll be back working with Star Sports for the remainder of the Indian Premier League. The 22-year-old, who is the daughter of Australian cricket legend Matthew, has become a rising star in the media in recent years.

She gained widespread popularity when she worked for broadcaster Star Sports during last year’s IPL tournament, and then scored a similar role during the Caribbean Premier League. Last year during the IPL she worked alongside famous father Matthew, who has become a popular commentator and analyst in his own right.

And she revealed this week she’s heading back over to India to take on the same role for the rest of the T20 tournament. “Excited to be heading back to India for the back end of the IPL as part of the Star Sports India team,” she wrote on social media.

The 22-year-old also told the Daily Telegraph: “Everything’s larger, louder, and brighter in India. It’s pretty cool to work alongside my dad too, and carry on the legacy.

“I never thought life would take me in this direction. I was always super sporty. (I) tried every sport growing up, and I’ve always loved being in front of the camera.”

Grace said India “feels like home” due to the many journeys her father took to the subcontinent. “He used to bring home spices and we would cook Indian food together,” she said. “Then I started visiting myself for the IPL and embraced the fashion, the people, the energy.”

Grace scored her breakout role in 2022 as Channel 7’s ambassador for Oaks Day. She’s since become a regular on Seven’s horse racing coverage, working as a fashion reporter during the Spring carnival. This year she also landed the role of lead presenter for digital platform Racing X.

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Fans took to social media to congratulate her on landing a gig in the IPL again. Many expressed their excitement at seeing her work alongside father Matthew again. Usman Khawaja’s wife Rachel – who also works with Seven – was among the many to respond.

“Dad is always super proud of me in everything I do,” she said previously. “We’ve loved working together over in the cricket space and I am going to continue to do that. He is proud and knows I will do the family well. His advice has been to have fun and be myself, to shine in my own way.”

Matthew Hayden a revered figure in India

Grace’s father Matthew played 103 Tests and 161 ODIs for Australia, scoring over 14,000 runs combined for his country. He averaged 50.73 in Tests and 43.80 in ODIs, and will go down as one of Australia’s finest opening batters ever.

He played for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL from 2008 to 2010, and is widely revered in India. His tour of the subcontinent in 2001 will live long in the memory of cricket fans, scoring 549 runs in the three-Test series at an average of 109.80. The 549 runs remain an Australian record for most in a three-Test series.