Matthew Hayden believes Australia have made a mistake by leaving Andrew Symonds out of the squad for the Ashes.
Former Ashes batsman says selectors made a mistake
Matthew Hayden believes Australia have made a mistake by leaving Andrew Symonds out of the squad for the Ashes.
The all-rounder has been dogged by controversy during the past 12 months and was sent home from a one-day series in Bangladesh last year after going fishing rather than attend a team meeting.
Cricket Australia then opted not to pick him for the tour to India and he was also overlooked for the trip to South Africa this spring after landing himself in hot water over a radio interview.
But Ashes veteran Hayden believes Symonds' on-field ability should over-ride any issues the selectors may have with his poor discipline off it.
Talking in the
Observer Hayden said: "It was a mistake to leave him out. Regardless of his past waywardness? What's that got to do with the Ashes?
"He's still playing good cricket. Everyone makes mistakes. He should be playing - definitely."
Hayden has now retired from international cricket and says he has no regrets in calling it a day just months before another Ashes campaign.
"Playing for my country has defined my life over a nearly 20-year period and to let it go was a very difficult decision.
"But I put all my energy and ability into playing over this time, whether it was state or county cricket, international cricket or, now, the Twenty20 game, so I can have no regrets because I've really committed every ounce of what I have to trying to do it all."
