Brisbane, Jan. 14 : 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.

Lahore, Jan 14 : Former Pakistan Test batsman Mohammad Yousuf has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for their subservience to the Indian Cricket Board, particularly in their ongoing policy of life bans on ICL players.

He has called on all cricket boards to resolve the issue and restore normalcy, especially in Pakistan, which has lost several cricketers to the ICL.

"I just say the PCB should take its own independent decision. It should not toe the line of the Indians," the Daily Times quoted Yousuf, as saying.

Melbourne, Jan. 14  Test greats fear that Mathew Hayden's decision to retire from all forms of the game will end Australia's aura of invincibility on the cricket field.

Former skipper Steve Waugh claimed that the powerful opener had "changed the face of Test match batting forever".

Current skipper Ricky Ponting hailed Hayden as arguably the greatest Test opener the world had ever seen, while bowling legends Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne said they feared Australia could take years to recover.

Lahore, Jan 14 : Former Pakistan Test batsman Mohammad Yousuf has again launched a stinging attack on the current skipper Shoaib Malik and the selectors for not treating him with enough respect.

He again called into question Malik's qualifications for the captaincy.

"Tell me on what grounds did they decide I was not fit for Twenty20 cricket? What were the criteria for deciding this?" Yousuf asked.

"Tell me how did Malik deserve to be the captain? How can you make a player a captain who is not certain of a place in the national Test or one-day team."

Sydney, Jan. 14: Sensational batting star David Warner has been put on standby for the Australian one-day squad with vice-captain Michael Clarke in doubt with a thumb injury.

The stunning elevation came on the same day his manager, Peter Lovitt, revealed his client will look to join a rival state if New South Wales cannot offer him a spot in their Sheffield Shield side.

Lovitt will seek an urgent meeting with the Blues next week to determine whether the 22-year-old is part of their cricket plans. If not, Warner will head to the open market.

London, Jan. 14 : Former England captain Tony Greig has said that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) should have backed skipper Kevin Pietersen in his rift with coach Peter Moores.

Speaking to Cricinfo. com, Grieg said: "I've always maintained that when a captain is replaced, the coach's position should also be reviewed."