NO matter how calm a cricketer tries to be amid the distractions on and off the field, karma has a way of sinking its frustrating teeth into his behind.

Matthew Hayden may have had reason to rue his own words when he took strike at the Gabba yesterday.

Lacking diplomacy last week, the big Queenslander had blamed “Third World” conditions for some of the over-rate problems on the subcontinent. He pointed out there were often delays because of sightscreen malfunctions and the like.

“Often we find ourselves with hands on hips waiting for someone to either face up or someone in the sightboard to move away – all the little frustrations that happen in Third World countries,” Hayden had said.

India exploded with righteous indignation.

It was unfortunate because Hayden is a long-time fan of the country and an enthusiastic tourist to the subcontinent. The big man loves the big place and embraces its culture with genuine warmth.

He had been singing Indian cricket’s praises just minutes before dropping the phrase, but by now Australian cricketers of all people should know that ill-chosen words can cause all sorts of problems.

And so there was Hayden back in the alleged first world and ready to face the first ball at the Gabba yesterday.

The ground was a bomb site after storms the night before. The large white sails that once formed the roof above one section of the stand lay shredded across a broad expanse of the seats while engineers were called to test the structural integrity of the supporting pylons.

A few weeks ago the Australians had been disappointed to see the small crowds attending Indian Tests, but only 12,498 people showed up yesterday.

The fans with tickets to the damaged area and the corporates who were due to eat in the dining room below were redirected to other sections of the ground. There was plenty of room.

Later a section of sail fell down on to an inhabited section blocking their view.

Outside traffic was diverted as cranes were brought in to repair the damage.

Play started half an hour late because the covers had blown off during the night and the square had taken a soaking. Ground staff worked feverishly with oversized hair dryers trying to fix the problem.

As Chris Martin stood at the top of his mark ready to deliver the first ball of the game, Hayden pulled away. There was a problem with movement near the sightscreen.

Play was delayed for a few more minutes while the fourth umpire climbed into the relevant section and suggested the entrance above it not be used.

A few overs later there was another delay as Tim Southee waited to bowl. Again there were sightscreen problems. After much arm waving, somebody realised what was going on but more time was lost. The same thing happened later and drinks were taken early.

New Zealand’s cricketers were patient and understanding. After all it wasn’t as bad as they had put up with the week before in the dusty provincial cricketing outpost of Sydney during the tour match. The Paddington end sightscreen there had malfunctioned on Saturday. Come Sunday the Randwick end machine had given up the ghost.

The ground staff decided to use two small tractors to shift it when needed, which had led to long delays and comical scenes as the vehicles bucked and slipped and struggled to move the screens.

It’s a tough tour for the Kiwis. Jesse Ryder had copped a bad stomach bug from the water or the food and had spent a few days in the team hotel on a drip, but had recovered enough to be back for this Test.

Hayden only lasted 18 minutes at the Gabba yesterday, caught out by the foreign bounce and a touch of indecision.

The day before the match he had said a batsman had two options on such a wicket; belt it or block it. The first 20 overs, he said, were the hardest. As it was, he was done by the trampolining bounce inside 20 balls.

Hayden started to hit his stride in the last two Tests in India. He came into the series after a long lay-off with an injury, struggled to find rhythm and good umpiring in the first pair of matches but was getting there with 83, 16no, 16 and 77 in his last four innings.

Now he has to quickly readjust his game to trying home conditions. Australia’s second innings will almost certainly be Hayden’s last Test knock at his home ground. He would love to give Queenslanders something to smile about after a hell of a week.

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Matthew Hayden on Matthew Hayden

MATTHEW HAYDEN has defended the “third-world country” remark that so infuriated India this month, but insisted he meant no disrespect to the nation or its citizens. Senior Indian officials, Mahendra Dhoni and an army of angry bloggers criticised Hayden over the comment, which he used when describing the factors that contributed to Australia’s slow over rate during the Border-Gavaskar series. But Hayden, while standing by the comment, feels he has been the victim of “certain sections of humanity [who] want to take someone like myself down”.

“The politics of cricket has gone mad,” Hayden told The Tonk. “One of the things I love the most about India, is that you walk around the back of the hotel, and there’s a man who’s selling peanuts on the street for one cent a month, and he holds his head so high, and is so proud, as if he was making $2 million a month. It frustrates me that certain sections of humanity want to take someone like myself down, who is a really great admirer of the country, and who has really built his career on the back of the country in a very proud and honoured way.

“We’ve had our competitive spats, but I’m sure that’s only enhanced the reputation of India. It’s made them play better against me, and I’ve played better against them. I stand by what I said. There is a large portion of India that is third world, that is below the poverty line. But from my experience, it is those people who I admire the most. They are the ones who send out the messages of love and passion and have that amazing enthusiasm for life. I greatly admire, and appreciate, all the wonderful sentiments they have conveyed to me over the years, and for anyone to suggest otherwise is way off the mark.”

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Posted by Homer at 11/20/2008 12:19:00 PM
2 comments:
Naresh said…
well, you try to justify one mistake (the overrate fiasco at Nagpur) and you make more and more. First P.Ricky picks a fight with Border and Chappel (now ain;t it good to see some ozzies bickering!), then he talks of the “captains’ duty” to maintain over-rates (I vaguely recollect even “spirit of cricket” mentioned), and finally, someone strikes an idea – blame it on the third world. P.Ricky talked something like this too (“conditions in the sub-continent” makes the overrates problem worse for them), though not using “third world” explicitly like Hayden.

Hayden deserved his first ball duck today – last innings at brisbane and all.

and to think he takes IPL money from our poor third world country.

I confess the thought crosses my mind – Steyn packing him off with a broken arm – just like Allan Donald did a long time back.

2:56 AM, November 21, 2008
scorpicity said…
Hilarious that account by Lalor… for the first time I enjoyed his writing… I must be sick though, got to see a doctor or Lalor has already seen one.

7:08 AM, November 21, 2008
Post a Comment

Just like the “metaphoric” Aussie retort!

Go on! I love it!

If you want me to actually whine. That’s more Indian over the last ………………………..

I am certainly amused!

The world has been at the receiving end of Aus nonsense for yonks! Take it on the chin and move on. What’s this about “cheap” and “cheaper” Chris? The Aussies know a boomerang when they see one. You flung it out. Now it has swung around and crashed into you!

What is? That I have decided to stop banging on about the Aussies poor play? Sorry. Happy to continue! But then, I need a break as well

The banner on I3J3 still has Ganguly and Kumble…at some stage i guess this will be redone to replaced by others?…sad but true…perhaps Yuvraj?

Raj

Has Yuvraj done enough to claim Ganguly’s spot? Not sure. India fans may not be willing to forgive him for his Australia adventure so easily.