Cricket: "Matthew Hayden will join Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket boards"

Australian Ex-Opener Matthew Hayden will join Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket Boards. The 37-year-old former Test opener was elected by the council of Queensland Cricket to replace Allan Border as one of Queensland's two CA directors.

Border decided to step down after eight years in the role. Border will stay on as a QC director while Bryan Phelan will continue as Queensland's other CA director.

Hayden said he was honoured to join both boards. "I see it as a wonderful way to maintain an active role in the sport and making a meaningful contribution to the game that has brought me and others so much enjoyment," Hayden said in a statement.

"I'm very excited about the challenges ahead and I'm confident that I can be a strong contributor for Australian cricket going forward." Hayden, who will stand down from the executive of the Australian Cricketers Association following his CA board appointment, said he would continue to advocate on behalf of the players.

"It's true I have been a vocal campaigner for players rights during my player career and it's only natural that I would retain that interest," he said. "But I have been very fortunate over the years with Queensland and Australia to be exposed to the wider interests of the game and, through that, develop a keen interest in the business of cricket and the overall growth of the game at all levels."

Hayden will join another former opener, ex-Test captain and NSW director Mark Taylor, on the CA board.