Melbourne: India have set an aggressive tone to the ongoing four-match Test series and Australia is not expecting any let-up going ahead for the Boxing Day Test, Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin said on Tuesday.
“The Indians have shown their hand that they are going to be quite aggressive,” said Haddin today, referring to the first two Tests — both of which Australia won.
“I think our middle and lower order can expect some more, that’s cricket. Maybe they will wind Mitchell Johnson up again and see how that goes,” he said.
That last statement might be a tease for the visiting side, who faced Johnson’s ire in the second Test after their attempts at sledging backfired.
After being in an on-field spat with Indian players, the tearaway bowler smashed 88 runs and came back to grab four wickets to help Australia win the match and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
Haddin was also critical of India for complaining about the practice pitches at the Gabba.
“What was wrong with the practice wicket?” asked Haddin, keeping up with the teasing tone.
“They used it the day after the game so there couldn’t have been anything wrong with it. I only know that our bowlers went down there to train and they were training there too the day after, so they can’t have been too bad.”
On day four morning, India had complained of poor net pitches after Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli got hit, causing unrest in the dressing room as intriguingly put forth by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Australia’s four-wicket win in the second Test was young Steve Smith’s first win as captain and Haddin, who was overlooked yet continues to be the vice-captain, backed his young skipper.
“The selectors have made a very brave and a very good decision in giving him the captaincy. I think it is the perfect time for him. He is on top of his game at the moment which is one thing you don’t have to worry about being captain,” the 37-year-old keeper said.
“He is a good leader and has a good core group of senior players to help him out. He is young and will only get better and better in the role. It was an outstanding decision by Cricket Australia.”
Haddin’s bat has not done the talking in the series yet and the pressure has also mounted on him but he said he is not too worried.
“I’m not concerned about it,” he said. “All my preparation has been spot on, I have just been out of runs. I am not stressed or too worried about it. The game will turn and it will go my way.”
Haddin also was full of praise for off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
“He’s bowling well. The wicket in Brisbane was a different one to Adelaide but I think he’s adapting to the wickets really quickly and he is doing different roles for us,” he said.
“In Adelaide, he won the game for us and to do so in that manner will hold Nathan in good stead moving forward. And then in Brisbane, he did more of a holding role for us, which to me shows he is maturing and starting to bowl better in different situations,” said the vice-captain. (PTI)