by Veena Gabriel
Surprisingly it is true. After all the defeats and criticisms Ricky Ponting had to face after India and South Africa tours, he showed that he was capable of at least one generous gesture. This was not for anyone in the present Australian team but for the batting legend Matthew Hayden .
Ponting knew that Hayden had decided to retire from international cricket and was due to make the announcement to this effect within hours. A former senior Australian Test player and Ponting came up with a novel idea of giving Hayden a unique farewell.
They decided to offer Hayden the testimonial captaincy for the second Twenty20 match against South Africa in Brisbane, so that for one, Matthew can pair up with upcoming cricket sensation David Warner, it would have been a treat to watch and secondly, with a last win Hayden would have taken his last bow covered in glory.
But it was not to be.Hayden politely refused the offer, since he was not included in the Twenty20 and ODI squad naturally his inclusion in the team at the last moment would disrupt the game. That Hayden did not want because for him team always occupied the top most position and nothing could be allowed to disrupt it not even his retirement.
But he was really touched by the offer and was all praises for the captain, the generous captain who was ready to step down for him, but he refused. As per him he was going to announce his retirement and after that to go out and play for Australia would not had been appropriate to say the least.
Hayden was satisfied with his lap of honour which he ran at the change of the innings. As per him it was a great way to bid farewell to his beloved game.
As per Cricket Australia spokesman Phillip Pope, the gesture by Ponting was touching but was not practically feasible as Hayden was no longer the member of Australian squad and he expressed his intention to retire from Australian colours in all form of Game.
But it was surely a commendable gesture and as things turned out Australia managed to win the Twenty20 match against South Africa by five runs, surely a thrilling victory.
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