inexperienced Australian team was overawed by playing at Lord’s: Haddin

LONDON - Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has admitted that an inexperienced Australian team was overawed by playing at Lord’s on the opening day of the second Ashes Test.

With just three players in the team having been on an Ashes tour before and none of the bowlers ever playing an Ashes Test, Australia’s attack had a terrible case of stage fright, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Haddin let through 15 byes as England raced to 0-196 before Australia fought back well to have the hosts 6-364 at stumps on the back of an unbeaten 161 from captain Andrew Strauss.

“It was a pretty poor start. Maybe the occasion got to a few of us. I thought I tensed up a bit in that morning session. Maybe the whole occasion of Lords got too big for a few of us,” Haddin was quoted, as saying.

“I thought late in the day we got into a rhythm and started to build a bit more pressure and started to relax a bit more into our work. It was pleasing to get six wickets in the end,” he added.

Pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson had 0-53 from eight overs at lunch before finishing with 2-107 from 19 overs.

Strauss had some sympathy for Johnson’s plight. “It is always a fast scoring ground Lord’s so if you are slightly off, you are going to go,” Strauss said.

Haddin was encouraged with how Johnson began swinging the ball in the final session. “With Mitch, late in the day, we saw him bring the ball back into the right hander, which is very good sign. With a bit of luck he’s got everything back in order and where he wants it to be.”

Marcus North filled in capably, bowling 16.3 overs of off-spin for figures of 0-59. (ANI)