Gilchrist defends Hayden

	TheAge reflects on the standing of Matthew Hayden after his verbal attack on Harbhajan Singh © The Age

Adam Gilchrist says Matthew Hayden remains one of the most highly-respected members of the Australia team despite Cricket Australia reprimanding him for calling Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious weed". Gilchrist said the team was ready to move on and focus on the remainder of the CB Series.

"We haven't even sat down to speak about it," Gilchrist said. "I haven't seen Matthew, so we'll see where that's all at over the course of the day. I've not ever cared to think what other teams think of Matthew Hayden. He's one of the most well-respected people in our team so that's all that interests me."

Gilchrist also brushed off reports Ricky Ponting had told Harbhajan to "f... off" while giving him a send-off when he was dismissed in the ODI in Adelaide. "Ricky didn't use the words that were said in the paper today," Gilchrist said. "I didn't hear it."

Gilchrist is trying to enjoy his last international series, which has effectively been a month-long farewell tour of Australia, and he said he was pleased he was not personally involved in the ongoing tensions. With two or three finals between Australia and India over the next week he was hopeful the focus could go back on the game.

"I think everyone's over it a little bit now, just trying to get on with the finals and play some cricket," Gilchrist said. "I'm glad I'm not amongst it. But I don't think any player intends to set out to be a part of it. It's sort of by-products of passion and loyalty to team-mates and trying to play the game as hard and as fair as possible.

"Sometimes you don't always make the right decisions and sometimes others perceive what you've said or done or your actions as being different to what they actually were intended. It's difficult for everyone."

Ever since the controversial Sydney Test the relationship between the two teams has appeared strained, although the Australians claim they get on well with their opponents off the field. Gilchrist said his final season had been an eventful one.

"There's been a lot on," he said. "I haven't played in too many summers where constantly there's been any number of issues you could bring to mind that have sort of always been there throughout the whole season. It's been tough work for everybody."