Hayden's Innings Ends

As you probably know by now, Matthew Hayden has today announced his retirement from cricket - both for Australia and for Queensland.


Much has already been written about this:
Hayden calls time on stellar career
Matthew Hayden: domestic dominator to global giant
Langer hails 'best ever opener' Hayden
Hayden draws stumps

I watched the media conference on tv, and the standout comment was when he paid tribute to his fellow opening batsmen Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer - and to Australian captain Ricky Ponting. He credits these players with helping him learn about "challenge, strength and companionship".

It also turns out that during his early years (when he was immensely successful for Queensland, but constantly denied a position in the Australian team) Hayden took advice from rugby league coach Wayne Bennett. Simply put - "Don't get bitter, just get better".

This is part of why sport is great. The lessons learnt are not just good for sport - they are also good for life.
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ps. from a replay, i've picked up the exact quote i referred to earlier.

"The partnerships that i've forged have been significant partnerships of life. They've taught me the value of great character, of strength and of companionship. It's been great!"

What Would Hayden Do?

It's never been a secret that Matthew Hayden is a devout Christian. Tracing the shape of the cross on his chest (to celebrate scoring a hundred) made sure of that.


He recently told Brisbane News that "When I'm in trouble it's always something to think about. I ask myself What would Christ do in this situation?".

Despite his best efforts, Hayden (like all of us) still doesn't match up to that sort of standard. Does that make him bad? I just think it means that he's not God (no matter how many centuries he scores).

Fortunately, God doesn't require us to be completely perfect. Apparently, that's part of the reason for Jesus - and the cross that Matt Hayden so often illustrates. But it's good to wanna be more like Jesus - the same way many cricketers wanna be more like Matt Hayden.

Loyal Lockyer

There's been a bit of talk recently about rugby league players taking up various offers, either overseas or in rugby union - even if it means breaking a contract. Even if it means deserting the team part way through a season. Why would someone do this? Often the reason is cold hard cash ... and lots if it.

So it's very refreshing to see a player who is not led around like a dog on a lead by the person with the biggest cheque-book. Last week, Darren Lockyer broke the record for the most games played by a Brisbane Bronco player (298, if you were wondering).


Arguably the best player in the world, he was asked if he would ever consider an offer from rugby union.

Rugby league has given me so many great things and this club has as well ... There might be an opportunity out there to make a bit more money but I feel like I owe the club and the game plenty ... I'm not going to go and leave the game to clear a bigger cheque.

For mine, the ability to see life beyond the dollar signs, makes Lockyer a star person as well as a star player.

Olympic Excitement

Read an article about the mental processes that athletes go through during their training - in the hope of winning gold at the Olympics.

It was an article in Christianity Today (of all places) and it compared the situation to that of a Christian - with one important difference. The Christian's hope is based on God, rather than on our individual strength or speed.

Justin Langer on "Luck"

This week i was reading Justin Langer's book. In it, he re-tells a fictional story (i guess if it was in the bible it would be called a parable) about a farmer's luck.

I thought it re-emphasised that often things that happen are just things. As the farmer says, "who is to say if it is good luck or bad luck?"

Doing it for Number 1

I never thought i'd devote a whole piece to Mark Gasnier, but his signing with French rugby club Stade Francais reveals something about the guy.

Columnists like Andy Wilson and Gorden Tallis have written about his hypocrisy, and the effect on rugby league. But i'm more interested in motivation.

Players say a lot of things in interviews. How much they love their club. How proud they are to be selected for their state. How strong the team spirit is. How they are honoured to be part of the history of the game.

Then a foreign club, in a different sport, comes along with a fistful of euros. Suddenly all of that passion, team spirit, honour go out the window. At least they do if the player is as self-centred as Gasnier...

I've had to react to it and I think this is the best reaction for me

My opinion of Gasnier has never been terribly high, but now it's lower. And it seems i'm not alone. A poll on the fox sports website asked what should be done to prevent situations like this. Currently, the most popular repsonse is "Do nothing - the NRL doesn't need these blokes". I guess Gasnier got one thing right:

I'm not going to be missed that much.

Speaking for myself, he's not going to be missed at all.

Brainy Footballers

Yes, you read right - it's not a typo. A 16-10 game three win has won Queensland the 2009 State of Origin series - that much we knew. Then in the post-game, Billy Slater tells us more.

Apparently, seconds prior to the match-winning move, he and Thurston we ready to run a different play - on the other side of the field. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, Thurston decided to switch to the left side. Slater "just followed him" for the winning 4-pointer.


What impresses me is the speed and clarity of thinking. While us mere spectators are struggling just to deal with the tension and cheer for our team, there's Jonathan Thurston. He's run several kilometres, been in dozens of physical collisions (the word tackle doesn't do it justice) and has millions of people watching his every play. He also knows he will receive the ball within seconds.

In between catching his breath and weighing up his options, he finds a second to analyse the defensive line, and identify a potential weakness. Maybe not the same kind of intelligence that works out the square root of 289, or can distinguish between the music of Chopin and Bach, but in terms of summing up a situation and taking decisive action - it's right up there.

Something to think about, next time i'm taking 15 minutes just to decide what to have for dinner.