Hayden steps down

An emotional Hayden revealed his decision at his home ground, the Gabba, in Brisbane.

The 37-year-old was set to take a lap of honour in front of his home crowd before Tuesday evening's Twenty20 match between Australia and South Africa.

He averaged less than 20 in Australia's 2-1 test series loss to South Africa, its first home series loss in 16 years.
Having scored 8,625 runs at an average of 50.73 during his Test career, the powerful left-hander was dropped for the current Twenty20 games and one-dayers against the Proteas.

He has played in 103 Test matches during a 17-year career.
He averaged 43.8 in the format with a top score of 181 not out.

"I have loved so much playing cricket, and I count it as so much of an honour to have represented my country," Hayden said.

One of his former team-mates, the retired fast bowler Glenn McGrath, praised a "legend of the game" who, he said, had "nothing left to prove".

"It's been an absolute honour and a privilege to play with him and even more so to call him a mate," said McGrath.

"His career stands alone. He's an amazing person and an amazing player, I was just very lucky to be a part of it."

Hayden, a veteran of 103 Tests, struggled in the five-day version of the sport this summer against New Zealand and South Africa, scoring just 149 runs at 16.55 from five matches.

Pakistan cricketers prepared to sit out of IPL

With the tension in India-Pakistan relations showing no signs of easing, pacer Sohail Tanvir said
the cricketers are mentally prepared to sit out of the Indian Premier League next year.

“Even if I don’t get to play in the IPL next season, I don’t think it would be a big setback for me or my career. There are a lot of other opportunities to play cricket in other countries,” Tanvir told before leaving for Australia to play in a domestic twenty20 tournament for South Australia.

Tanvir was one of the stars of the first season of the IPL emerging as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament and helping his team, Rajasthan Royals, led by Shane Warne, win the title.

Pakistani players may not get the clearance from their board and government to go to India or even be entertained by the IPL organisers for the season starting April.

“There is some time left before the season starts. But if they don’t I have other options to look at
like playing in England or some other country,” Tanvir said.

He said he put country before everything else and if the players were told not to play in the IPL he would have no problems.

“The interest of the country is paramount. Cricket comes later. As it is playing for Pakistan is far more important for me then any other cricket,” he said.

“Nothing can replace the feeling of nationalism one feels when representing your country.”

Tanvir said while he had thoroughly enjoyed playing for Rajasthan in the IPL debut season but the IPL was not the be all and end all for him.

“I am in a learning stage and I think playing outside the subcontinent is very important for me in my learning process. That is why I am looking forward to my stint with South Australia,” he said.

The left-arm pacer said he was not worried about the financial repercussions of not being able to play in the IPL as he had full confidence in the Pakistan cricket Board.

“The board is already looking after our financial interests properly so for me missing the IPL is not a big deal,” he said.

But Tanvir hoped relations between the two countries improve soon as bilateral cricket contests between the two nations were very significant for survival of Test cricket.