Dirty tricks fears add to Australia’s tribulations

Just as England were quick to leap to the defence of Jones, so Australia were steadfast in their support for Hayden, their denial of any wrongdoing hinting that dirty tricks may now have been added to the problems of a tour that was back on track after the humiliating defeat against Bangladesh and Andrew Symonds’s night-time activities in Cardiff.

Jones insisted yesterday that there was “nothing nasty” about what he did but acknowledged that Hayden’s reaction was understandable.

“Sometimes the ball comes back to you and you show a bit of controlled aggression,” Jones said. “I obviously didn’t mean to hit him — I stressed that when I apologised — but he was bound to be angry when the ball hit him in the chest. I didn’t hear what he said but I could tell by his body language that he wasn’t happy.”

As for Hayden, he was far more hurt by the allegations of swearing at a child. “I’m really disappointed and very upset about it,” he said. “You’ve got to realise that I have a young family at home and to me it’s just unacceptable behaviour and something that I don’t condone. Never have done, never will do.”

Belinda Dennett, spokeswoman for the Australia team, said: “We asked Matthew what happened last night and he gave us his word that nothing had occurred. He has reiterated that this morning. He told us there is absolutely no way that he would swear at a young kid. He is a role model, the father of two children and an ambassador for his country. We have no reason whatsoever to doubt him.”

The Australian view is that the matter cannot go any farther until the source of the allegation comes forward. “An as yet unidentified person appears to be making these allegations and until that person is known we just see this whole situation as ridiculous,” Dennett said.

There was no indication last night that Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, was about to bring any charges, which he has to do within 24 hours of any incident, but he had already given the players fair warning of the standards he expects earlier in the day.

“Just as we respect the heritage of our game, so we expect the players to respect the historic standards of good behaviour,” Speed said at an ICC business forum at Lord’s. “Cricket is a tough game to umpire, it can be a frustrating game to play, but we will not stand for any erosion of our game’s reputation. I believe there has been an improvement in player behaviour over recent years but I believe there is still room for improvement. Over the last 12 months, we have worked to stamp out excessive and overaggressive appealing. We have also taken a tough line on dissent. We have no plans to soften this stance.

“International cricketers have a responsibility to set a good example. We do not want to see players disputing umpires’ decisions. We believe even the most intensely competitive game can be played in a spirit where players show great respect for each other, the umpires and the game.”

HOW THEY LINE UP

AUSTRALIA (probable): R T Ponting (captain), A C Gilchrist, M L Hayden, D R Martyn, A Symonds, M E K Hussey, M J Clarke, G B Hogg, B Lee, J N Gillespie, G D McGrath.

BANGLADESH (from): Habibul Bashar (captain), Javed Omar Belim, Shahriar Nafis, Tushar Imran, Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Khaled Mashud, Khaled Mahmud, Mashrafe Mortaza, Mohammad Rafique, Manjural Islam Rana, Nazmul Hossain.

Umpires: Alim Dar (Pakistan) and J W Lloyds (England). Replay umpire: M R Benson. Fourth umpire: N J Llong. Match referee: J J Crowe (New Zealand).

TELEVISION: Sky Sports 1: 10.30am-6.30pm. Sky Sports 3: Highlights, 9pm-11pm.

RADIO: BBC 5 Live Sports Extra (DAB): 10.40am-6.30pm.

WEATHER: Light showers with a south-westerly wind, maximum temperature 20C (68F).

HOSTILE HISTORY OF OLD ENEMIES

Jan 1933 — third Test, Adelaide

The most bitter conflict in Anglo-Australian and possibly all English sporting history was the Bodyline series, in which Douglas Jardine, the England captain, employed a strategy of short-pitched bowling directed at the batsman, primarily with the aim of curbing the prodigious scoring of Don Bradman. The series exploded in the third Test when Bill Woodfull was hit over the heart by a ball from Harold Larwood and then Bert Oldfield suffered a cracked skull after mishooking another ball from Larwood. Mounted police were on standby as the crowd reached fever pitch, though they were never deployed. After a protracted exchange of cables — no instant communications in those days and there was a month before the next Test — between the cricket authorities and at political level, the tour continued, but the events of that Australian summer have secured an infamous place in the game.

Feb 1971 — seventh Test, Sydney

John Snow, the England fast bowler, was warned for persistent use of bouncers after Terry Jenner, Australia’s No 10, ducked into a ball and was hit in the face. Ray Illingworth, the England captain, protested at the warning and, after Snow was grabbed by a spectator, followed by a torrent of beer cans from other parts of the crowd, Illingworth led his side off the field. England returned after he was told the match would otherwise be awarded to Australia.

Dec 1979 — first Test, Perth

Dennis Lillee, so often England’s scourge with the ball, was involved in a row with Mike Brearley, the England captain, over his bat. Lillee had come to the wicket with a bat made of aluminium and after objections from Brearley, and a ten-minute hold-up in play, was finally persuaded by his captain, Greg Chappell, to replace it with a traditional willow blade.

MARCUS WILLIAMS