Sunday, October 31, 2010

“Hayden swaps cricket for the kitchen”

“Hayden swaps cricket for the kitchen”

Hayden swaps cricket for the kitchen

Posted: 30 Oct 2010 09:44 AM PDT

One of Australia's most famous cricketers has swapped his bat for a frying pan and launched his own cookery and lifestyle show.

After retiring from the sport two years ago, Matthew Hayden turned his hand to his second love, publishing recipe books and appearing in a self-sufficiency TV programme called Matthew Hayden's Home Ground.

One of the most prolific batsmen in the history of Test cricket, Hayden travelled all over the world during his professional career, picking up cookery tips from the countries he visited.

But despite his current domestic lifestyle, he still had some fighting words as England's cricketers arrived Down Under for the Ashes.

Hayden says England are not as good as the team which was thrashed 5-0 in the last Australian series.

But he did admit it will be a close competition, particularly because Australia have slumped below England in the world rankings and have just lost three Tests in a row.

Hayden retired almost two years ago with a Test batting average of over 50, scored 30 centuries, and holds the record for the highest score ever by an Australian Test cricketer, 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003.

But these days, the man who could usually be relied upon to avoid ducks, now keeps chickens, and grows a lot of the food he cooks with.

'I love food. Obviously I love my family, so I'm trying to connect my kids back into that way of life. This is not really a TV show. This is my life.'

During his extensive travels, Hayden developed his love for food by cooking on a small gas stove he kept at the back of the team bus.

While his colleagues would stop at motorway service stations for something to eat, he would be whipping up his own dinner.

In India he would buy local spices and go into the hotel kitchen to cook alongside the catering staff.

But Hayden retains a keen interest in cricket. He coaches indigenous players and is a director of Cricket Australia.

Even as a loyal Aussie, he hopes the upcoming Ashes will be a more even contest than the last one.

'They came out here and they got walloped. And everyone was a little bit deflated. Even as a player we were expecting it was going to be a little bit closer than it was.'

He thinks the retirement of Andrew Flintoff makes England a weaker side than 2006, but believes their build up this time will be better, with more time to play warm-up matches before the First Test at The Gabba on November 25.

'I think England is a good side that's going to be better prepared. I don't think they're as good as where they were the last time they were out here but I don't think they prepared right.

'So I think they're very evenly matched. I don't think it will be 5-0, but would I like to make a prediction? No!'

'Your top boys have got to be in absolute key positions and produce the goods. So Kevin Pieterson is one of those characters that comes straight to mind.

'Andrew Strauss and these kinds of characters can do a really great solid job, but for me Kevin is someone who can destroy an attack.'

He still has an abiding memory of losing the Ashes to England in that dramatic series in 2005, and stayed on in London after his team-mates had gone home, witnessing the huge celebrations.

'The Ashes is really the beacon of hope for Test cricket, and to play it is very special.'

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