Former Aussie cricket powerhouse Matthew Hayden may be missing the Sydney Test Match, but the ardent Queenslander doesn’t mind for a few days at one of his state’s greatest sporting events.
Hayden, along with a host of Queensland sporting stars, stopped by the Brisbane International this week to catch a glimpse of the tennis stage, and while he may have spent his days in the luxurious Suncorp suites rather than the hot sun, the big-hitting opening batsman said the tournament was exactly what summer in Queensland is all about—family, fun, sun and every sport under it.
“The summer for me is all about fishing and family and I’ve been a constant chef actually the past week and a half, but cricket has got its place in our home, put it that way,” he said.
“Every year I notice when the tournament is played it gets a little more profile coming into the Australian Open, so it’s exciting. People tend to vote with their feet and this stadium is chockers today, so it’s terrific.”
Watching on Thursday to return the favour to Aussie sport-loving Lleyton Hewitt, Hayden was blown away by the tennis players’ abilities, but in typical Queenslander fashion, he was glad he found his calling in a team sport like cricket.
“They’re such different sports aren’t they. One’s a totally team sport and one’s exclusively individual, so they’re almost polar opposites,” he said.
“Like every young Queenslander, we play everything from swimming to squash to tennis, so I guess I played it all but cricket chose me without any doubt.”
Back for his second day in a row at Pat Rafter Arena, Hayden can’t get enough of the Brisbane International tennis, air-conditioning aside, but perhaps tennis fans will spy the cricket legend checking for cricket updates up in front of the Suncorp suite.
For tickets to the Brisbane International, visit Ticketek.