hayes made his first-class debut for cambridge university against gloucestershire in 1974. he made 26 further first-class appearances for the university, the last of which came against oxford university in 1977. in his 27 first-class appearance for the university, he scored 343 runs at an average of 10.93, with a high score of 56 not out. this score, his only first-class fifty, came against glamorgan in 1977. with the ball, he took 51 wickets at a bowling average of 35.92, with best figures of 5/48. these figures, his only five wicket haul, came against nottinghamshire in 1975. he made his list a debut for cambridge university against essex in the 1974 benson & hedges cup. he played a further list a match in that season's competition for the university against surrey. the following season he played list a cricket for the combined universities, playing his first match for the team against hampshire in the benson & hedges cup. he made 3 further list a appearances for the team, the last of which came against kent in the 1976 benson & hedges cup.