The former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin expressed his disagreement with England head coach Brendon McCullum’s recent remarks regarding the off-field relations between the two teams. Haddin specifically mentioned that the Australian team doesn’t require the English team’s company during social interactions.
McCullum had earlier stated that the England team would refrain from sharing a drink with the Australians in the near future. This statement came in response to the contentious dismissal of England’s wicketkeeper-batsman, Jonny Bairstow, on the final day of the Lord’s Test on Sunday, July 2.
During the Willow Talk Podcast, Brad Haddin shared his thoughts on McCullum’s comments about the off-field relationship between the teams.
“The coach is saying they won’t have beers with the Aussies. Well, mate, they are 2-0 up. They will enjoy their own company. They don’t need to have a drink with anyone else,” Haddin remarked.
Haddin also highlighted a similar incident involving Brendon McCullum himself, where he tapped his crease and then went to congratulate his partner, Kumar Sangakkara, on scoring a hundred.
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“It sounds like sour grapes from England. They are throwing a lot of stuff at the Australians both on and off the field through the media. Australia has stuck to their game style, trusted it, won the crucial moments, and stayed solid to clinch the Test match,” Haddin added.
Furthermore, Haddin commended Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey for his quick thinking during Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal. Haddin asserted that Bairstow was at fault for his own dismissal, attributing it to a lapse in concentration.
“Bairstow had a lapse in concentration, plain and simple. He wasn’t focused. Carey noticed him wandering outside his crease a few balls earlier and as soon as he got the ball, he threw it, hitting the stumps and running Bairstow out. According to the rules, he was out,” Haddin explained.
Haddin drew a comparison between Bairstow’s dismissal and Mitchell Starc’s catch of Ben Duckett on the fourth day of the match.
“While Starc had control of the ball, he wasn’t in control of his movements when he completed the catch. So if England wants to strictly follow the rules for that catch and be content with it, Bairstow’s dismissal was simply a lapse in concentration that Carey smartly took advantage of,” Haddin concluded.