Sydney, Feb.28 : Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has described Australian opener Matthew Hayden as one of the most disliked figures in world cricket.

Reacting to Hayden calling him an "obnoxious little weed", an enraged Harbhajan said that the Australia team has perfected the art of sledging and is bad for cricket.

Though Hayden was clearly unhappy to have been found guilty by Cricket Australia for his remark against Harbhajan in a Brisbane Radio interview on Tuesday, and being asked to give a forced apology, Harbhajan asked "Who is Matthew Hayden?"

"I don't want it to be a slanging match, but you only need to speak to international cricketers and international teams to know in what opinion they hold Hayden," the Herald Sun quoted him as saying further.

Harbhajan even accused Australia of trying to cover up their on-field sledging by hiding among their teammates to avoid being detected by television cameras.

He claimed during the one-day international in Adelaide this month that Ponting had continually asked him to "show what you've got" while he was batting.

Harbhajan responded with a cheeky: "Whatever I have shown in the middle has been better than yours in the series so far."

Harbhajan then claimed Ponting told him to "f... off" after the India player was dismissed.

Harbhajan stopped and turned around to see the Australia captain yelling abuse while celebrating with his teammates.

"They do it so well. They keep their back to you when they have something nasty to say to the opponent," said Harbhajan.

It's understood the pair exchanged words later that night outside the dressing room.

These comments have poured more fuel on what will be an explosive finals series, beginning in Sydney on Sunday.

ANI