Brisbane: Former Australian opener Mathew Hayden has said that his decision to retire from all forms of the game was not an easy one to take.
Speaking a day after his retirement, he recalled speaking with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for about ten minutes or so, discussing how both would love to work together to try to advance the well being and prospects of Aboriginal cricketers.
These are the two lives of Hayden, the public figure and the outdoors boy who might one day just disappear into the wilderness and not come back.
Hayden lives on Brisbane's southside. His property is substantial, giving his three children room to play, a dam where he can fish and the kitchen to express his great passion for cooking.
He was out in the back garden the other day relishing picking a bunch of wild tomatoes with daughter Grace where he decided to quit.
"It wasn't an easy decision (to retire)," he said.
"I was tossing and turning. As a player I have contributed all I can. I have lived the dream of every kid who has picked up a bat and ball and wanted to wear the baggy green. I am retiring from cricket, not from life. I want to use the time now to explore my other passions,” he said.
Hayden's retirement brought all his old mates together again. He spoke to Justin Langer, Steve Waugh and Glenn McGrath early and was in no hurry to hang up on any of them.
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