Hayden charged for Harbhajan slur

Matthew Hayden has been charged with a breach of Cricket Australia's code of conduct after describing Harbhajan Singh as an "obnoxious little weed".

The Australian opener clashed with the India spinner in the two sides' bitter series down under, and admitted he has had "a bit of a long battle" with him.

But Hayden has been charged for "the public denigration of other players" after the interview on Brisbane radio.

Hayden appeared before a hearing in Melbourne on Wednesday morning.

Hayden and Harbhajan's running feud escalated during the second Test in Sydney last month, when the spinner was accused of making racist remarks to Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds, the hosts' only mixed race player.

Hayden was a witness in the first hearing against Harbhajan which resulted in a four test ban, though that suspension was later overturned on appeal - after reports India would boycott the rest of the tour if it was upheld - and Harbhajan was fined a portion of his match fee instead for abusive language.

The two players reportedly clashed again on Sunday, when the Indian team accused 94-test veteran Hayden of calling the offspinner "mad boy".

That claim was denied by Hayden, who said: "I called him a bad boy. He took offence to that and I thought that was quite funny. I said, 'Mate you should be flattered, it's a clothing range'."

During a tempestuous tour, 19-year-old bowler Ishant Sharma has also been found guilty of breaching the player's code of conduct after an ugly exchange with Symonds un Sydney on Sunday.

However, India maintain they have been provoked by their hosts.

And Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah has confirmed India have written a letter to match referee Jeff Crowe complaining about the behaviour of the Australians.

Hayden said his dispute with Harbhajan had been running for years but believes the reason India were complaining so much on this tour was because "they are losing every game they are playing".

"It's been a bit of a long battle with Harbhajan. The first time I ever met him he was the same little obnoxious weed that he is now," stated Hayden.

"His record speaks for itself in cricket. There is a certain line that you can kind of go to and then you know where you push it and he just pushes it all the time."

Hayden also had some advice for teenage fast bowler Sharma, who was fined 15% of his match fee after clashing with Symonds, which prompted India's letter of protest.

"He is just young. I have said to him many times, 'You are 19, take it easy'," added Hayden.

"He is 19, why doesn't he just worry about his bowling for a while? I like the idea of actually getting into the ring (with him). I like that, bring it on."

The BCCI were less than impressed with Hayden's remarks and immediately protested to Cricket Australia.
"We condemn such comments by the Australian players," said chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty.

"Our secretary has already communicated our feelings to Cricket Australia. We've advised our players to show restraint but, despite that, if such comments are being made it is really unfair."