Australian sporting greats have come down heavily at Cricket Australia officials, describing them as a bunch of cowards for reprimanding opener Matthew Hayden who just called "a spade a spade".
Former Test cricketer Jeff Thomson said the CA had been "politically correct" in officially reprimanding Hayden while legendary rugby player Tommy Raudonikis called its officials as "dead-set sooks".
"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? Its bull s**t," Thomson was quoted as saying.
Echoing Thomsons` sentiments, Raudonikis ridiculed the reprimand to Hayden and said the player had just called `a spade a spade`.
"They are so weak. They are dead-set sooks. To see Hayden in trouble for what he said is ridiculous. Aussies are known for our toughness, and for calling a spade a spade, and there is nothing wrong with that," he said.
The Australian Cricketers` Association also supported Hayden, wondering how could be charged guilty for giving his personal opinion when asked.
"The ACA is disappointed that Matthew was charged for expressing a personal opinion about another player," ACA chief executive Paul Marsh said.
South African batting legend Barry Richards reacted to the Hayden sanction by claiming that cricket was being made to look "stupid".
"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," Richards said.
"The trouble with all these reportings and hearings is that teams are using them to try and get some ascendancy. It is all about scoring points at the moment," he added.
"This political correctness is just a lot of nonsense."
Hayden was reprimanded for calling Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious little weed" in an interview earlier this week. He had also invited young paceman Ishant Sharma "into a ring" for a boxing bout.
Austrlaian skipper Ricky Ponting also felt Hayden`s remark about Harbhajan was "pretty flippant" to cause such a furore.
"It was a pretty flippant remark but you have to understand what you can and can`t do. I know that Haydos, when he said that, wouldn`t have thought in his wildest dreams that it could have escalated into what it has," he said.
Ponting claimed Hayden was at the Cricket Australia offices at 1.30am (local time), even though the verdict of the marathon nine-hour pre-hearing and hearing was announced before midnight.
This, Ponting said, had harmed Hayden`s preparation for the match against Sri Lanka at the MCG.
"It`s probably punishment within itself because he pays so much attention to his preparation. It`s unfortunate," he said.
Legendary spinner Shane Warne also joined the bandwagon in Hayden`s support, saying he was not surprised his former team-mate had vented out his frustration but was amazed at the reaction to it.
"If that is what he said, that is what he said. He obviously wanted to get it off his chest. So be it," he said.
"People do what they do, say those things and the board get involved, (but) hopefully it will all be settled and there will be some good cricket played in the finals," he added.
On Harbhajan`s description of Hayden, Warne said antagonism among rivals was part of the game.
"I suppose some individuals dislike other players more than us. I have disliked a few. I am sure a few disliked me as well, (but) I think that is what it is all about," he added.
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