Hayden's Singh shot

Hayden: In hot water

Australia’s Matthew Hayden has been charged with a breach of Cricket Australia's code after labelling India’s Harbhajan Singh an ’obnoxious little weed’ during an appearance on a Brisbane radio show.

There has been an ongoing spat between the players which Hayden admits has been festering for while, his outburst on the airwaves has seen intervention from the authorities who have slapped a charge of ‘the public denigration of other players’ on the Aussie.

'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 on the wireless.

'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.'

An irked Hayden famously took umbrage with Singh in Sydney last month during the second Test when the Indian was accused of racist comments to Australia’s Andrew Symonds, a player of mixed race.

Singh was originally hit with a four-Test ban which was subsequently overturned on appeal – Hayden was a witness in the first hearing.

The animosity between the players was also apparent, over the weekend, when India complained Hayden dubbed Singh a ‘mad boy.’

‘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',’ explained Hayden on Brisbane radio.

Furthermore the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have written a letter to match referee Jeff Crowe complaining about the Aussies antics.

Hayden claims the spat with Singh has been running for years and it’s just sour grapes as India is hitting bad form.

Hayden also had words for 19-year-old bowler Ishant Sharma, who has been found guilty of breaching the player's code of conduct after an exchange with Symonds on Sunday, prompting India’s stiff letter.

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."

With all the fuss around the IPL (India Premier League) and Hayden’s comments, things are more interesting off the cricket field than they are on it these days.

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