Inspired England bowling in Ashes opener hardest I’ve ever had to face: Haddin

BRISBANE - Australia’s centurion in the Ashes opener in Brisbane, wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin, has said that England’s bowling on day three was the toughest he has ever had to face in Test cricket.

Haddin’s comments came after he shared a 307-run game-changing partnership with Michael Hussey, as Australia made 481 in their first innings reply to England’s score of 260.

“The first hour and a half was probably the hardest Test bowling I’ve ever had to face. It was a pretty conscious effort to make sure we got through that unscathed and hopefully at the back end of that we might be able to get on top of the bowling and bat with a bit more freedom,” the Telegraph quoted Haddin, as saying.

“But that first period was the toughest Test cricket you can get with (James) Anderson and (Stuart) Broad bowling. The pleasing thing is that we came through the other side and put the result on the board that we did,” he added.

Haddin (136) and Hussey (195)’s partnership is the third highest for the sixth wicket in Australian Test history, 39 runs shy of the 346 by Don Bradman and Jack Fingleton against England at the MCG in 1936-37.

Meanwhile, Hussey said that it was a very satisfying achievement to score a hundred, and it is something that he “would remember for the rest of his life”.

“There was a bit of relief, a bit of excitement and there were great emotions running through the body and I’ll remember that for a long time,” Hussey said.

“I’ve still got plenty of adrenaline running through my body, so I might have a struggle to get off to sleep tonight. I’m sure I will be playing some shots through my mind,” he added. (ANI)