Parthiv Patel tried to sledge Matthew Hayden, and the latter threatened to punch him in the face during India’s tour of Australia in 2004.
Mathew Hayden. (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- If you do this again, I will punch your face: Hayden to Patel
- Hayden called me home, prepared chicken biryani and dal for me: Parthiv
- Yeah, Hayden wanted to beat me up in Brisbane: Patel
India’s veteran wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel has revealed that former Australia batsman Matthew Hayden had threatened him to punch on his face during an ODI at Gabba in 2004.
Patel recalled how he teased Hayden after the Australia batsman was dismissed by Irfan Pathan 16 years ago. Patel, who was the 12th man for the ODI, teased Hayden while carrying drinks for his team.
Hayden, who had made a quick 109 off 107 before edging behind in a doomed chase of 304, got angry and threatened Parthiv Patel that he would punch him if the India wicket-keeper did it again.
“I was carrying drinks in Brisbane, it was the match in which Irfan Pathan got him out,” Parthiv Patel told 100 Hours 100 Stars.
“He had already scored a hundred, and it was a crucial stage when Irfan got him out. And I was just passing him by and I did a ‘hoo hoo’ to him.”
“He got so angry at me. He was standing at the Brisbane dressing room which is like a tunnel,” Parthiv said.
“He was standing there, and he said ‘if you do this again, I will punch your face’. I said ‘sorry’, I stood around and he went off.”
However, things changed when Patel and Hayden were bought by Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2008 and both the left-handed batsmen went onto share a close bonding while opening for the franchise.
“Yeah, Hayden wanted to beat me up in Brisbane. But we became good friends after that. We played a lot of cricket together at CSK. We enjoyed each other’s company. Opening the batting was fun with him. We’ve had good times off the field as well. So we patched up after that Brisbane incident,” Patel said.
“Even after the IPL finished, I went to Australia with an emerging side. Hayden called me home, prepared chicken biryani and dal for me.”
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