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Hayden: Wickets will favour Aussies

Australia opener Matthew Hayden believes the wickets for the final two Tests of the Ashes series will favour the tourists.

England's pace bowlers dominated proceedings during the second and third Tests thanks to their ability to get reverse swing, but Hayden insisted that was about to change.

"As opener you have to get through 15 to 30 overs which are the most challenging overs of the day, simple as that," he said.

"There is no question that the reverse swing is the most difficult.

"But we might have seen the last of those conditions because Trent Bridge is a normal swinging ground traditionally and the surface at The Oval has a bit of a featherbed wicket with tennis-ball bounce rather than the rough, abrasive ones at Edgbaston and Old Trafford."

Hayden was speaking after making 136 in Australia's two-day game against Northamptonshire and, after averaging just 24.5 in the first three Tests, he is confident he is back to his best.

"I have been feeling good the whole time, I have started well in every innings apart from the nought in the second Test," he said.

"Now with the series where it is, the last two games are something I really want to be part of.

"It is a long time since we have been in a great fight and I have enjoyed that side of it immensely."