Hayden: I dodged a bullet

Former Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden suffered multiple facial injuries, including a fractured bone in his neck, in a surfing accident on Saturday. 

The 46-year-old went surfing with his son in the south of Brisbane and took to Instagram on Saturday to explain the incident.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Took on Straddie back bank yesterday with @josh_hayden28 and lost!!! Game over for a few days??‍♂️☹️

A post shared by Matthew Hayden (@haydos359) on Oct 5, 2018 at 2:44pm PDT

He posted a second message on Sunday with a photograph of him in a neck brace.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Ok. Last attention seeking post I promise. Just wanted to say a big thank you to all our mates on Straddie who have been so supportive.✅??‍♂️? Especially Ben & Sue Kelley for the fast diagnosis with MRI, CT scan. Fractured C6, torn C5,C4 ligaments safe to say I truly have dodged a bullet. Thank you everyone ❤️ On the road to recovery ??‍♂️?

A post shared by Matthew Hayden (@haydos359) on Oct 7, 2018 at 3:44am PDT

Hayden, who retired in 2009, scored 8,625 runs with 30 centuries at an average of 50.73 in 103 Tests and scored 6,133 with 10 centuries at an average of 43.80 in 161 ODIs.

Photo: Andrew Romano/Getty Images