Adelaide, Jan 19: Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has confessed that he is physically and mentally drained with the pressure of retaining his spot in the national side. Haddin is one of the few Australians who has endured a horrible series against the Indians, accumulating just 33 runs from three innings in the three Tests played between the two sides so far.
An anxious Haddin said he found himself feeling lethargic during the warm-up before the Sydney Sixers’ thrilling Twenty20 Big Bash win over the Perth Scorchers at the SCG last night.
"I felt mentally and physically drained," Haddin told Sky Sports Radio. "It didn't feel right during the warm-up. How I felt, I just thought, 'Oh no, this doesn't look good'. I thought in Perth things were going well. I spent a lot of time catching leading into Perth, probably hit too many balls. You've just got to find that right balance."
Haddin’s form turned for the worse in the game between the Sixers and the Scorchers; he scored a second-ball duck and dropped a catch behind the stumps.
Haddin’s bad run with the bat and gloves has intensified demands for him to make way for Victorian Matthew Wade in the Test side. Wade has already won a place as Australia’s T20 wicketkeeper, but it appears that the injured Tim Paine is still the preferred candidate to replace Haddin at the Test level.
Haddin downplayed the competition with the two individuals saying, "What people underestimate is the pressures you're under whether you're doing well or not. It's a big effort to get yourself up for a four-Test series and I think [that] was the case last night."
Australian spin legend, Shane Warne, who plays with Wade at the Melbourne Stars, has voiced his support for Haddin. "I think he's doing a good job. Hopefully he can find some form because he's a wonderful player," he said.
Australian pacer Peter Siddle, in the midst a terrific series against the Indians (17 wickets from three Tests), also chimed in for Haddin.
"I've played all my Test cricket with Brad and he's been amazing contributor," Siddle said. "He's had some tough times at the moment but he's a great player. He's obviously got a good first-class record, which shows he can perform at the big times.
"I'm definitely backing him ... I think Adelaide will be a good wicket for him to bat on and hopefully we can get a few more nicks through to him to give him some support."
