Watch: Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath, two pillars of Australia’s success in the 1990s and 2000s, had a mid-pitch showdown during an Australia v Australia A match in 1995.
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Years before he became a regular in the Australian team, Hayden was featuring for Australia A in the Benson & Hedges World Series 1995. Opening the batting against a full-strength Australia side in the final, he came up against a fired-up Glenn McGrath, who would go on to become his long-time teammate.
In the 17th over of the innings, Hayden slapped a McGrath delivery past point in trademark fashion. As the ball raced to the boundary, and Hayden crossed to the other end, checking if he had to run again, he found the “corner of his [McGrath’s] arm”.
Cameras panned the duo, who jostled each other and exchanged words. A visibly displeased McGrath pushed Hayden with his right arm. McGrath then walked back to his run-up, still angry, muttering to the umpire as he crossed him. Replays suggested that Hayden might have intentionally grazed past McGrath’s elbow, even though the batsman later admitted he’d not seen it [the elbow], and that he was “under the impression he’d [McGrath] intentionally stuck his arm out at that time”.
As expected, there was “the whole ‘eff you’ thing” that followed. It might have been over 25 years, but the two “still talk about it” according to Hayden, debating over who started the clash.
Who crossed the line first? You decide:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn1V1JeBGFo&ab_channel=robelinda2
