BRISBANE: Matthew Hayden’s move from cricket arena to boardroom took just six months, the recently retired Test batsman replacing former captain and selector Allan Border on the Cricket Australia board.

The 37-year-old Hayden, who quit international cricket in January, was elected on Tuesday as one of Queensland state’s two directors on the Cricket Australia board. Border, who was Australia’s most prolific Test scorer until that mark was overhauled by incumbent skipper Ricky Ponting in the ongoing Ashes series against England, stood down from the CA board after eight years.

“I see it as a wonderful way to maintain an active role in the sport and making a meaningful contribution to the game,” Hayden said in a statement. “I’m confident that I can be a strong contributor for Australian cricket going forward.” Hayden will quit as a member of the Australian Cricketers’ Association board.

“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.”

Hayden played 103 Tests and was one of the leading batsmen in a 17-year first-class career. He scored 8,625 Test runs at an average of 50.73. Hayden also played in 161 one-dayers, scoring 6,133 at an average of 43.80, and was a key member of two World Cup winning campaigns.