Haddin won’t back down in Ashes war of words

LONDON: Australia wicket-keeper Brad Haddin has insisted there will be no changes in his on-field approach despite calls for an end to ‘sledging’ during the upcoming Ashes series against England.
Ahead of next week’s first Test in Cardiff, England paceman James Anderson has contrasted the sporting atmosphere which prevailed during his side’s recent series with New Zealand to the bitterness of the last Ashes campaign, which Australia won 5-0 on home soil in 2013/14, and urged an end to ‘sledging’ or verbal abuse of opposition players on the field.
But Haddin, much criticised for the way in which he gave departing New Zealand batsmen ‘send-offs’ during Australia’s World Cup final victory in Melbourne in March, was quick to point out that Anderson himself had not been shy of dishing out the ‘verbals’ during previous Ashes campaigns.
“They start half of it! What about Jimmy Anderson? He has called for peace hasn’t he? He better look at himself in the mirror,” said Haddin in the build-up to Australia’s four-day tour match against Essex in Chelmsford starting Wednesday.
“I have never played in an Ashes campaign where things have got out of hand, this one will be no different,” said the 37-year-old Haddin, a veteran of 65 Tests.
“The tradition of the urn deserves that, to play the brand of cricket we play, and England play. We have not won (an Ashes series) here (England) for 14 years now.
“The Ashes will be played in the great spirit (they) always have (been), but it will be contested.”
Haddin also said thought of Australia adopting the approach of New Zealand, who have long since abandoned ‘sledging’, was a non-starter.
“We are not New Zealand. We won the World Cup final. We will play the way we play, which works for us, and if you like it, you like it,” he said.