‘Refreshed’ Haddin looking forward to his IPL, Windies test stints

October 29th, 2009 more images more imagesADELAIDE - South Australian wicketkeeper Graham Manou has been rushed to India to make his one-day international debut in place of injured Tim Paine. Manou was preparing to captain the Redbacks in a Sheffield Shield game against Victoria from Friday, but his plans changed when Paine busted the ring finger on his left hand while attempting to glove a Peter Siddle bouncer during last night's defeat to India in Nagpur.

October 27th, 2009 SYDNEY - The chairman of the Australian cricket selection committee, Andrew Hilditch, has given New South Wales opener Phillip Hughes hope about making a comeback to the Test squad for the Australian summer series against the West Indies. Hughes returned to Sydney yesterday to be told that Hilditch had informed incumbent Test opener Shane Watson to be prepared to bat anywhere in the top six against the West Indies next month.

October 14th, 2009 ANTIGUA - The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and its players have said that they are close to resolving their long-standing dispute, paving the way for a full-strength team to visit Australia later in the year. The WICB and the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) said they have settled most of the divisive issues, with an arbitration process organized to sort out the remaining concerns.

September 23rd, 2009 SYDNEY - Skipper Ricky Ponting is worried at the prospect of facing an under strength West Indies side during the opening game of the Champions Trophy, which would be followed by the start of the Australian cricket season against the same team. The Australians' opening pool game of the Champions Trophy is against a Windies line-up severely weakened by a contract dispute, which will give the world champions a look at what side could arrive this November.

September 18th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Tasmanian Cricket Association chairman Tony Harrison has said that Tim Paine's match-winning one-day century for Australia against England should make all cricket followers aware of his class and potential. "Wicketkeeper batsman Tim Paine's first international one-day century scored against England overnight and his outstanding form behind the stumps have clearly stamped him as the heir-apparent Australian wicketkeeper," Harrison said.

September 14th, 2009 KARACHI - Former Pakistan cricket captain Javed Miandad said Monday Pakistan is blessed with the best bowling attack in the world and can beat any team provided the squad overcomes its batting problems. "I think Pakistan has one of the best bowling attacks in the world and if they improve their batting they can win the Champions Trophy," The Nation quoted Miandad, who has coached Pakistan in three previous stints in the past, as saying.

September 4th, 2009 PORT OF SPAIN - As talks to resolve a two-month dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and senior players ended without an agreement, an unknown batsman with a Test average of nine could possibly lead the team against Australia. Floyd Reifer, who has a Test average of 9.25, may lead the West Indies this summer, as twelve senior players, including captain Chris Gayle and star batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, went on strike in July on the eve of the home test series against Bangladesh after negotiations with the board broke down.

September 3rd, 2009 SYDNEY - Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has been officially ruled out of Australia's Champions Trophy title defence in South Africa later this month because of a broken finger. The New South Wales gloveman had surgery on the ring finger of his left hand after returning home from Australia's unsuccessful Ashes tour.

August 26th, 2009 SYDNEY - New South Wales Test stars Stuart Clark, Simon Katich and Brad Haddin arrived back in Sydney this morning, and immediately stepped in to defend Ricky Ponting's captaincy credentials, though he has become the second Australian skipper to surrender the Ashes twice in England. "Ricky Ponting has got my full support and I think he's the best man to be captain.

August 14th, 2009 PORT OF SPAIN - Australian John Dyson has been axed as the West Indies head cricket coach. Assistant coach David Williams will fill the vacant head coach role for the upcoming Champions Trophy tournament in South Africa.

July 31st, 2009 LONDON - Injured Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin faces the danger of missing the rest of the ongoing Ashes series due to a fractured finger. Haddin was injured moments before the start of third Test at Edgbaston Thursday and in almost the same spot where Glenn McGrath fatefully sprained his ankle by tripping on a cricket ball during the warm-up for the corresponding game four years ago.

July 31st, 2009 LONDON - England skipper Andrew Strauss's sporting gesture to allow Australia replace its injured wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, moments before the start of the long-delayed third Test at Edgbaston, has drawn praised by all and sundry including Australian coach Tim Nielsen. Strauss gave Australia permission to select reserve wicket-keeper Graham Manou for an extra-ordinary last minute Test debut after the team management discovered the seriousness of a finger injury to Haddin suffered during warm-ups and sent him to hospital for x-rays.

July 17th, 2009 LONDON - Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is hopeful about injured off-spinner Nathan Hauritz bowling in the second innings at Lord's. Hauritz dislocated the middle finger of his bowling hand on the opening day of the second Ashes Test.

May 31st, 2009 SYDNEY - Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has warned England to not breathe too easily before the start of the Ashes campaign on July 8 in Cardiff, after the retirement of bowling greats Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne. Haddin enjoyed a view of the new-look bowling attack during the recent Test series win over South Africa, and was adamant that Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Shane Watson would help spearheads Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee and Stuart Clark could turn the tables on their old foe.

May 27th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Australia will play six Tests, 10 one-day internationals and three Twenty20s against the West Indies and Pakistan in 2009-2010. According to the Herald Sun, the summer will open with three Test matches against the West Indies, followed by three against Pakistan, the first in Australia since 2004-05.