HAYDEN

BBC reports: Matthew Hayden has been charged with a breach of Cricket Australia’s code of conduct after describing Harbhajan Singh as an “obnoxious little weed”.This was expected. CA has already drawn a lot of flack for the way this tour has shaped up. I wonder what punishment would be in store. IMO though, Haydos needs to be sent a rehabilitation centre to help him get rid of his liking for weed. Really, how ridiculous could one get with commenting about the opposition players? Calling Harbhajan an obnoxious little weed could be ignored. But the following statement about Harbhajan proves that Haydos must have himself been high on weed when he gave the interview to a Brisbane Radio station: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.This about a bowler whose maximum wickets (64/256) have come against the Australians. How dumb can you get? Effect of weed I guess.As if this wasn’t enough, he goes on to give further proof. This time talking about Ishant Sharma, who, again, just by chance, happens to be the best bowler against the Aussies in this series.

THE South Africans entered the first Test convinced that Sunday's epic one-day victory had, after years of heartbreak, shattered the mental barriers that stood between them and a Test series victory over the Australians.Reality, though, has turned out somewhat differently.
After a disastrous first day, in which South Africa's coach Mickey Arthur blamed the circus surrounding Sunday's one-day run chase for distracting his players, the home side struggled to contain an Australian side intent on building an imposing first-innings lead.Led by Matthew Hayden, who became just the ninth Australian Test batsman to pass the 7000-run barrier and, in so doing, moved passed Sir Donald Bradman's career mark, the visitors advanced to 4-228 just before to tea on the second day - an overall first-innings lead of 23. On a Newlands wicket quickening by the hour, the Australians were determined for a lengthy stay at the crease.
The South Africans, though, hardly did themselves any favours, committing a succession of blunders in the field that largely negated the solid bowling efforts of Andre Nel, Andrew Hall and Makhaya Ntini.Ricky Ponting was the main beneficiary of several dropped catches, allowing him to post 74 and combine for a potentially match-turning 154-run partnership with Hayden.
Upon resuming their innings on Friday, Hayden and Ponting appeared in a far more positive mindset than on day one, which concluded with Australia at 1-63 from 23 overs in pursuit of South Africa's 205.Hayden, in particular, worked hard to lift the run rate, continuing his startling run of form since the fifth Test of the Ashes series.Having lost his opening partner Justin Langer to a doubtful lbw decision for 16 on day one, the hard-hitting Queenslander promptly moved past his 26th Test half-century and stood within reach of his sixth ton since The Oval Test last year. Driving and pulling strongly, Hayden seemed immoveable on a ground at which he has scored 63 and 96 in his only other innings.Ponting never looked as convincing. After surviving a close lbw shout from Jacques Kallis, then watching as Mark Boucher and Andre Nel butchered opportunities to catch him, the Australian captain was eventually dismissed on the eve of the lunch interval for 74.