Cricket Australia peeved at players

Cricket Australia powerbrokers have expressed anger over claims they have not given their players enough support this summer.

Melbourne, Feb.29 : Cricket Australia powerbrokers have expressed anger over claims they have not given their players enough support this summer.

In a season where relations between the two parties have soured, some players yesterday were still dumbfounded why Matthew Hayden had landed in hot water for simply labelling Indian troublemaker Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious little weed".

Hayden was cited by CA chief executive James Sutherland for breaking Rule 9 of the players' code of behaviour, and eventually given a reprimand by an independent code of conduct commissioner.

Hayden spent nine hours at CA headquarters on Wednesday, fuelling speculation cricketing politics with the almighty Board of Control for Cricket in India was at play.

This added to player concerns that Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds were not given enough support during the racial row with Harbhajan which flared during the Sydney Test.

The players feel CA's recommendation to have the charge downgraded resulted in the Indian spinner eventually being cleared by Justice John Hansen.

While the players feel Cricket Australia too often kowtows to the powerful BCCI, high-level CA officials have privately questioned whether their team was guilty of double standards.

"We have supported the players getting a one million dollar pay cheque in India in the IPL," the Daily Telegraph quoted an official, as saying.

"We have done all the work there to get that going. And not one cent of that comes back to us or to grassroots cricket. We don't hear anything about that," he added.

Officials also noted captain Ricky Ponting regularly attended CA board meetings, and often expressed his thanks and appreciation for the work the governing body does.

Officials also question whether the players truly understand the politics of world cricket, and feel more communication is needed between the two parties in this area.

"We have a broader responsibility than just to the (CA contracted) players," an official said.

While Hayden yesterday came to terms with a tumultuous 24 hours, team mate Adam Gilchrist strongly defended the veteran opener from claims by Harbhajan he was not liked by international opponents.

The Australian vice-captain said players didn't always make the right decisions on the field, and was glad he wasn't in the middle of the latest spat.

ANI