Haddin loves to scrap, desperate to experience intensity of cricket in India

Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is a combative character and is desperate to experience the intensity of cricket in India.

Bangalore, Oct.13 : Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is a combative character and is desperate to experience the intensity of cricket in India.

That he loves to have a scrap with players in the opposition came out distinctly during his face-off with Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan on the third day of the first India-Australia Test being played here.

According to The Age, Haddin has been looking forward to the hostility of India-Australia conflict, but he created a monster when he sledged Khan on Saturday and has endured a torrid first outing with the gloves in Bangalore.

Though Zaheer has declined to reveal the nature of Haddin's remark that triggered a "Zak Attack", broadcast sources have deduced from the footage that the pace man suggested Haddin keep his mouth shut in light of the Australians' commitments to play in the spirit of the game.

The uneasy peace between the sides was threatened as Zaheer and Australia's old antagonist Harbhajan Singh frustrated the Australians with an 80-run stand to change the momentum of the Test late on the third day.

Zaheer demanded Ricky Ponting control his player and said he would not back down as the teams left the field.

Ponting appeared to calm Zaheer down and defuse the situation, and match referee Chris Broad had not received any reports from the umpires.

Faced with the unenviable task of replacing the incomparable Adam Gilchrist, Haddin finished with one of his less-desirable records, conceding more byes (23) than any Australian in an innings against India. The previous record was the 19 byes conceded by Gilchrist in Madras in 2001.

Haddin, who spent much of India's innings diving around on the grass, knew this series would test his glove work and his emotions, having experienced the noise and the pressure during last year's fractious one-day series, albeit as a specialist batsman.

"There's so many people here and you're right in the middle of it and it is quite hostile but it's something you've got to deal with and another challenge you're looking forward to," he said before the series.

"I think it's important over here as a keeper that your tempo is consistent, because you do get long, hot days and it can get quite draining, " he added.

ANI