Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden says he would love to help Australia secure the Champions Trophy if it is safe for the team to play. Billed as the second World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to decide this week whether to move the tournament from Pakistan for security reasons.
Australia, England and New Zealand sent security consultant Reg Dickason on an inspection tour after players raised concerns over travelling to the troubled country.
But Hayden says Cricket Australia and the players will be well informed before they make a decision and the motivation is there for Australia to claim its maiden title.
"We're on the eve of competing in what is known as the second World Cup," he said.
"We don't want to walk away, it's a tournament that we've never won.
"We've always come close but never achieved that and it's certainly one that I want to be involved in if it means that my safety is not compromised."
Hayden also weighed into the debate over potential changes to the Gabba's centre wicket amid ongoing concerns about AFL player welfare.
The Brisbane Lions have continued to call for a softer centre wicket, but Hayden said while he understands the Lions' point of view, the switch to a placid drop-in wicket would devalue cricket in the long-term.
"The benign drop-in wickets don't promote a particularly entertaining form of cricket," he said.
"It's very much a grafting style of cricket. Here [at the Gabba] you can come as a spectator and I'm one of those whenever I'm out sitting up in that box watching the competition between bat and ball and I can tell you I don't think there's a better place on earth to play."
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