Rachael Haynes cricket’s T20 World Cup drug testing saga and the Katy Perry moment that haunts her

Rachael Haynes is one of the most accomplished cricketers in Australian history, but one story she knows will haunt her forever and it involves pop princess Katy Perry.

A quick Google search of Haynes’ name leaves no doubt about his impact on Australian cricket. A seven-time World Cup winner in two different formats, Vice-Captain of Australia for five years, a Commonwealth Games gold medalist and nine domestic championships.

But one story pops up on Google, according to which a 36-year-old woman says she would never live.

It includes Haynes, the 2020 T20 World Cup final, Katy Perry performing with the Australian team on stage and a drug test.

You might think you know the story, but as Haynes revealed in his exclusive column this months CODE Insighton Sunday, few know the extent of his missed opportunities.

Australia had just defeated India in the World Cup final in front of a crowd of 86,174 at the MCG, setting a new world record for a women’s cricket event and an Australian record for women’s sporting competition.

Shortly after Australia handed over the trophy, international superstar Perry took to the stage to perform. He had invited the winning side to the stage with him.

One person was missing.

In the bowels of the MCG, Haynes had been called to provide a urine sample for a mandatory drug test.

I will never stand this, he said. The infamous drug test.

I knew as soon as I got off the ground that I was being tested and a lot of time passed while we waited for the concert to start, so I thought I would get this test done and be back in time.

There were a couple of Indian players in front of me and I had to wait for them to last ages.

The doctor in our group came and saw me, I told him I had a sample and everything was done.

How wonderful it was, he said.

Yeah Pip, we just won the World Cup, I told him.

Not like that, getting on stage with Katy Perry, she said.

I couldn’t believe it. I missed it and the girls never let me forget it.

But the story gets worse.

In an attempt to make up for Haynes missing out on that memorable moment that went global, an offer was made the very next day, but everyone forgot to tell him until it was far too late.

We stayed in Melbourne to celebrate our win and Katy Perry was scheduled to appear on Project TV.

Unbeknownst to me, they had offered me with him to make up for what I missed, but no one told me.

I had already booked my flight back to Sydney to get home. I was in the departure hall when they called.