Cricket New record: Matthew Hayden smashed his way into the record books yesterday by making the highest individual Test score as Australia went run-crazy against Zimbabwe.

Hayden thumped his way to 380 off only 437 balls before falling to medium-pacer Trevor Gripper as Australia ran up a formidable 735 for six declared on the second day of the first Test in Perth.

Zimbabwe, needing 536 just to avoid the follow-on, refused to buckle in pursuit of Australia's total and reached the close on 79 for one.

Gripper is still there on 37 not out alongside Mark Vermeulen who came to the crease following the dismissal of Dion Ebrahim, bowled by Jason Gillespie for 29.

Hayden, who struck 38 fours and 11 sixes in his knock, passed the previous world best mark of 375 - made by West Indian Brian Lara against England nine years ago - when he drove Raymond Price down the ground for a single.

The left-hander's knock finally came to an end just after tea when he aimed another big hit off Gripper towards the midwicket boundary but succeeded only in finding the hands of Stuart Carlisle, who took a brilliant sprawling catch.

Australia captain Steve Waugh immediately decided to declare his side's innings, leaving wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist unbeaten on 113 - his share in a quickfire stand of 233 with Hayden. He finished with four sixes and 12 boundaries in his ninth Test hundred

The day belonged to Hayden, however, the Queenslander thrilling the crowd at the WACA with a series of expansive shots - reaching three figures for the 15th time in Tests and easily passing his previous best of 203 which was made against India.

After bettering the Australian record - held jointly by Donald Bradman and Mark Taylor with 334 - Hayden then went on to pass Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya (340), Len Hutton (364), Garfield Sobers (365 not out) and finally Lara.