Weed remark insensitive, admits Hayden

“The cricket environment I have grown up with is probably a little bit different from today,” the 37-year-old was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.

Hayden expressed anguish at being reprimanded by Cricket Australia for his behaviour.

“It saddens me that my employer has to discipline me for my behaviour,” Hayden said.

Hayden, in an interview to Brisbane Radio, had called Harbhajan an “obnoxious little weed” and also invited young paceman Ishant Sharma “into a ring” for a boxing bout.

Support for Matt

“Every time someone says something, some official pulls them in. I am sick of political correctness. Someone asked Hayden what he thought of Harbhajan and he gave his view. Aren’t you allowed to give an opinion any more? It’s bulls**t.”

— Jeff Thomson

Former Australia fast bowler

“The way they are going they will be having tea and cucumber sandwiches on the pitch. Test cricket has got to be about some sort of clash. This political correctness is just a lot of nonsense.”

— Barry Richards

Former South Africa batsman

“If that is what he said, that is what he said. He obviously wanted to get it off his chest. So be it. People do what they do, say those things and the board gets involved. Hopefully it will all be settled and there’ll be some good cricket in the finals.”

— Shane Warne

Former Australian leg-spinner