Thaindian News

Melbourne, Dec 25 (IANS) Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin says the team has put behind it the recent loss to New Zealand and is fully prepared to take on India in the four Test series starting here Monday.

“I think we are in a very good space. We have had a week to prepare. We couldn’t be more prepared and more looking forward to the game,” said Haddin ahead of the Boxing Day Test.

“Boxing Day is a great occasion to walk out on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. As a sportsman, it is a highlight to play in front of 60-70 thousand people. We have had a very good couple of days at our batting camp and we are ready for the contest.”

Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey have been in woeful form this summer and are under huge pressure to perform in the Boxing Day Test. Ed Cowan replaced out-of-form opener Philip Hughes in the squad for the first Test announced Saturday and a lot would be expected from David Warner who has been in sublime touch.

Swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus has won a recall after recovering from knee tendinitis while Shaun Marsh returns to bat at No.3 after overcoming a back injury which kept him out of the series against New Zealand.

Speaking about the injury cloud hanging over India’s two premier fast bowlers, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, Haddin said: “I think they rely on the two big boys quite a lot.

“With the injury cloud I don’t think too much about that with the Indian team. Once they take the field they seem to roll out all right. We know where their strengths are, but we also know there are areas that we can get the game moving forward and develop the game as quick as we like.”