Hayden's fine a sign of things to come

According to The Telegraph newspaper, Matthew Hayden, arguably the greatest-ever Australian opening batsman, who retired last week, has been penalised by Cricket Australia (CA) for an Achilles tendon injury suffered or exacerbated while playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The action is being viewed here as a warning to other players of the risks they run by playing in the Indian league, the second edition of which is scheduled for April.

Pay cut

Hayden reportedly had his lucrative CA retainer cut after being sent home from Australia's tour of the West Indies last May, ostensibly because of the injury suffered in India.

Cricket Australia enacted a clause in its Overseas Club Playing Agreement to deny Hayden a portion of his retainer and any compensation or insurance for missing the tour of the West Indies.

Hayden is believed to have maintained that his pay should not be cut because he suffered his chronic tendon injury throughout his 16-year international career.

Even as CA has adopted the stance that it cannot be held liable for injuries suffered in the IPL, Hayden has been compensated by the Australian cricketers Association (ACA) out of its player insurance pool.

From all indications this is not the end of the matter, with Hayden, now a high-powered player-advocate, and the ACA determined to pursue the matter on a question of principle in Australian cricket's next Memorandum of Understanding.