Afp, Dubai

Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, who formed one of Test cricket’s most enduring and destructive opening partnerships, will briefly become rivals on Thursday when Pakistan tackle Australia for a place in the Twenty20 World Cup final.

Both now aged 50, their competitive natures have found new outlets -- Hayden as batting consultant with Pakistan and Langer as Australia’s head coach.

“It’s a very unusual feeling,” admitted Hayden on Wednesday.

“I was a warrior for Australian cricket over two decades, so that does give me the benefit of having wonderful insights not only into these players but also into the culture of cricket in Australia.”

Hayden and Langer were the bedrock of the Australian side for the best part of a decade.

They opened together for the first time at The Oval in 2001 and strode out side-by-side for the final time at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2007.

In between, they collected 5,655 runs together when opening, a record that included six double-century partnerships. Their average was a shade under 52.

Both men ended their careers with over 100 Tests each and bags of runs -- Hayden smashed 8,625 while Langer hit 7,696.