Indian team breaks quicker than anyone in the world: Haddin

Perth: Australian wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin today fired a fresh salvo at the struggling Indian team ahead of Friday’s third Test here, saying the visitors “break quicker than anyone in the world” when things are not going their way. Haddin said the Australian team had discussed the mental frailty of Indian players during the second Test in Sydney last week, which the hosts won by an innings and 68 runs. “We spoke about a bit of that when we were batting. The longer we could keep them out on the field, the bigger chance we had of breaking them. We know this side can be as fragile as any team in the world if things aren’t going their way and they can turn on each other and the media turns on them pretty quick. [caption id=“attachment_176986” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath (L) poses with current Australia cricketers Brad Haddin (R) and James Pattinson during a McGrath Foundation event at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Reuters”]  [/caption] “We knew if we could keep them out there and put the numbers like we did on the board, we knew we’d get the rewards because they break quicker than anyone in the world,” Haddin was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. Down 0-2 in the four-Test series with crushing defeats in Melbourne and Sydney, the third game at the WACA is a must-win one for India who are beset with bowling and batting issues. Haddin also claimed that Australia have found a weakness in the armour of senior India batsman Sachin Tendulkar, whose quest for a 100th international hundred will restart in Perth. Tendulkar has scored 226 runs at an average of 56.5 in the first two Tests, but the historic milestone has so far eluded him. “What we have found is if we can build enough pressure on him, he wants to score and he wants to feel bat on ball and he wants to get into a rhythm. We find if we can push him a little wider, make him feel for the ball a bit, we can build enough pressure to get a chance and it’s worked in the last two Tests,” said Haddin. Haddin said that paceman Peter Siddle could make life difficult for Tendulkar in the coming matches. Siddle dismissed the champion batsman twice in the first Test at the MCG. “We’ve found he can be a bit uncomfortable in the areas Siddle’s been bowling to him. I knew if we could build enough pressure we can create a chance to get him. He’s a great player and it’s always a privilege to play against guys like this… There’s been a lot of talk about his hundredth hundred but from our point of view, it’s our job to make sure he doesn’t get it this series,” added Haddin. PTI