By Julie Hayne
Pictures: Paul Broben
The Aussie cricketing legend opens up about his decision to retire from the game, and his admiration for his wife…
Cricketing legend Matthew Hayden makes no bones about the driving force in his life since he quit the game that made him world famous.
“You should write a love story,” says Matthew. “My wife Kellie has been such an amazing woman throughout my whole career. People talk about heroes, but to me, my wife is a true hero.”
Australia’s most successful opening batsman clearly has no regrets about hanging up the baggy green to spend more time with the love of his life.
“While I absolutely loved playing cricket, and while the whole journey has enriched my life, it definitely was hard to be away from home so much during the kids’ formative years,” says the father of three.
“The reality is you’re away from home about 10 months of the year. It’s a different thing listening to your partner telling you what the kids did over the phone than actually being there, which was definitely tough because you know you can’t ever get those times back.”
Thankfully those days of pining for his family are behind him. Looking tanned and fit after spending some much-needed relaxation time at the couple’s holiday home, Matthew is in his element discussing his family: wife Kellie, daughter Gracie, 6, Joshua, 3 — who is obsessed with frogs and proudly brandishes one upon our arrival — and the youngest, 20-month-old Thomas.
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