Matthew Hayden fractures spine while surfing and admits: "I've dodged a bullet"

Former Australia batsman Matthew Hayden has suffered a fractured spine and torn ligaments in a surfing accident.

The 46-year-old revealed he had "dodged a bullet" after the incident off Stradbroke Island in Queensland.

Hayden posted photographs on Instagram showing him wearing a neck brace and with cuts to his forehead.

He wrote: "Just wanted to say a big thank you to all our mates on Straddie who have been so supportive.

"Especially Ben & Sue Kelley for the fast diagnosis with MRI, CT scan. Fractured C6, torn C5,C4 ligaments safe to say I truly have dodged a bullet.

"Thank you everyone. On the road to recovery."

A prolific opening batsman, Hayden played 103 Test matches for Australia between 1994 and 2009, scoring more than 8,000 runs including a then-record Test score of 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003.