Hayden reprimanded after 'weed' jibe

Matthew Hayden has been reprimanded by Cricket Australia for remarks made about India spinner Harbhajan Singh after a lengthy hearing in Melbourne.

Commissioner Ron Beazley issued a reprimand to Hayden shortly after 11pm local time as a penalty for breaching the CA code of conduct.

Hayden had described Harbhajan as an "obnoxious little weed" in a radio interview.

Hayden was charged by CA chief James Sutherland under rule 9 of the CA Code of Behaviour which prohibits players from the "public denigration of other players against whom they have or will play".

The latest controversy between Australia and India stemmed from comments Hayden made on Tuesday in an interview with a Brisbane radio station.

"It's been a bit of a long battle with Harbhajan. The first time I ever met him he was the same little obnoxious weed that he is now," Hayden said.

Relations between the two sides have been tense following the allegations of racial abuse against Harbhajan which overshadowed last month's second Test in Sydney.

Earlier on Wednesday, Australia paceman Brett Lee said the players were eager to put the controversy behind them and instead focus on the Commonwealth Bank Series finals, which begin on Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"It's a bit of a shame a few things have happened on the cricket field, people know where the line in the sand is and if you cross that line well you know you will get dealt with," Lee said.

"The thing we have to acknowledge too is that once you do walk onto the cricket field and go over that line it doesn't matter whose made friendships, it's very important we go out there and play the hardest, toughest, fairest cricket we possibly can."