Johannesburg, May 19: Chennai Super Kings batsman Matthew Hayden is having a blast in this Indian Premier League, and believes water sports helps him unwind and maintain balance between cricket and life.

Hayden, who is a big fan of water-sports, has been spending time in South Africa surfing and kayaking. "I’m just glad to have some time out for water surfing. During this tournament I’ve spent more time on the ocean than I have on a cricket field.

"I love kayaking and surfing, and then, if there’s time I like doing some fishing. I like to explore the water world" said the burly left-hander, who has clobbered 546 runs with five half-centuries in 11 innings in IPL-2. "Apart from being a passion, it gives me an edge because in a tournament in which matches are played over half a day and are scheduled every other day, there is a lot of time spent on thinking cricket. You need to have a balance in life and surfing gives me that," he told the IPL’s official website.

Hayden said life due to international cricket was becoming lot more demanding and so he chose to express himself in the Twenty20 format.

"I always wanted to get back in the ring. I mean you always go back again and may be play on. For me that time was really about finishing at a time when I really wanted to get back on the top of my game and finish things off but I didn’t have the same instincts," said the 37-year-old. — PTI