By IANS
Brisbane : While giving an “insight” into Australian cricketers’ idiosyncrasies, Andrew Symonds says Michael Clarke loves his jeans, Michael Hussey has “two personalities” and Brett Lee “cops it over that Indian song he recorded” recently with Asha Bhosle.
In his column, which appeared in Sunday Mail here, Symonds describes the 12 players, including himself, just before Australia’s first Test against India starting in Melbourne Wednesday.
Mentioning the song that Lee recorded with the well-known singer, Symonds writes: “He still cops it over that Indian song he recorded. He’s a changed man in some ways. In recent years he has married and had a child.”
In the duet, Lee and Asha are shown face to face in the video album with the fast bowler trying to sing a few lines in Hindi with his Australian accent.
“I think the added responsibility on the field has been good for him. He’s a real hands-on father who loves changing nappies and feeding,” writes Symonds.
Here are a few samples of what Symonds thinks of his teammates:
* Brad Hogg: “I have one word for Hoggy – pest. He’s like a fruit fly, always buzzing around driving blokes mad. He’s not so much a prankster as just downright annoying. He’s really popular.”
* Matthew Hayden: “Haydos is the thinker of the team. He’s a real calculating sort of guy and a big influence in our dressing room. When he gets out he can get pretty dirty. He’ll swear and curse, but that side of him has calmed down. In a team meeting, he’s quite vocal. He points out the pros and cons of a certain team or tactic.”
* Michael Clarke: “‘Pup’ cops a fair bit from the guys over the hair and the diamonds. We love trying to get him dirty. Heaven help if he gets something on his jeans, although he’s improved a bit lately. His mind ticks over hard.”
* Michael Hussey: “He has two personalities. There’s ‘Mr Cricket’, the bloke that is just so serious about his game. He monitors his food and his sleep and his batting. But once the day’s play is over, he becomes ‘Huss’. He enjoys the team environment and letting his hair down.”
* Stuart Clark: “‘Stuey’ comes across as this straight-laced quiet bloke but he loves a dressing-room sledge. He and ‘Haydos’ are always going hammer and tongs. We call him ‘Sarfraz’, after Pakistani bowler Sarfraz Nawaz, but I have no idea why.
* Ricky Ponting: “‘Punter’ looks serious to the public but he likes a good laugh. He’s a very sharp and witty bloke. His cricket brain is phenomenal. He picks apart a game so well.”
* Adam Gilchrist: “Gilly is from the old school. His attitude is play hard, party hard and he’s a really popular member of the group.”
Andrew Symonds: “I hate talking about myself so a few simple words sum me up … ‘not so serious’. Have a Merry Christmas.”