Hayden picked his team after the ICC launched ‘Your Greatest XI’, which will allow fans a unique chance to pick their Greatest All-Time Cricket World Cup XI from the previous 10 editions of the event.
The fans aren't the only ones who will be participating in this. Several cricketing legends across the world will pick the greats they think should make the Greatest XI, and these will be shared on the ICC website.
Hayden, the former Australian opener, was the first one to do so. His pick included four Australians - Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Ricky Ponting, who is also the captain of the side.
Apart from Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, ODI cricket’s leading wicket-taker with 534 scalps, is the other spinner in the team, which has Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s famed new-ball duo, to accompany McGrath in the seam bowling department.
Gilchrist is Hayden's wicketkeeper, while Virender Sehwag is Gilchrist's opening partner. The rest of the batting wears a solid look, with Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Kallis, four of 10 batsmen who belong to the 10 000-run club in ODI cricket, making up the top/middle order.
Kallis is the only all-rounder in the team.
The 2015 Cricket World Cup, to be staged in Australia and New Zealand, runs from February 18-March 29.
How to pick:
The ICC database consists of over 100 of the greatest World Cup players of all-time. A photo and a short Pen Profile that describes their World Cup record and their memorable impact at the event is available for each player. The ICC also lists detailed World Cup statistics for each of the players.
The players fall under four different categories - batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders and wicketkeepers. Each XI you choose should feature at least two batsmen, one all-rounder, one wicketkeeper, and two bowlers.
You can pick your Greatest XI by clicking here.
Matthew Hayden’s All Time Greatest XI:
Adam Gilchrist (Australia) (wicketkeeper)
Virender Sehwag (India)
Ricky Ponting (Australia) (captain)
Sachin Tendulkar (India)
Brian Lara (West Indies)
Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
Shane Warne (Australia)
Wasim Akram (Pakistan)
Waqar Younis (Pakistan)
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)
Glenn McGrath (Australia)