India breaks under pressure, says Australia’s Haddin

Wednesday, 11 January 2012 01:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: The Indian cricketers are the most vulnerable in the international game and wilt when subjected to sustained pressure, Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said on Tuesday ahead of the third test between the two countries.

In a fresh salvo at the visitors, who are already facing flak back home for their meek capitulation in the first two tests against Australia, Haddin said the tourists were “as fragile as any team in the world”.

India, ranked number one in the test rankings until August last year, were whitewashed in England 4-0 in their last away series and trail 2-0 in the current one against Australia after heavy losses at Melbourne and Sydney.

“We spoke about a bit of that when we were batting,” the Australia vice captain told Sky Sports Radio Australia on Tuesday.

“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.

“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 referring to Australia’s mammoth first innings total of 659 for four declared in the Sydney test, which India lost by an innings and 68 runs for their sixth successive overseas defeat.

India’s Sachin Tendulkar, who has been chasing his 100th international century, has looked most accomplished at the crease for the visitors but Haddin said the Australians have identified a chink in the master batsman’s defense.

“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,” Haddin said.

“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.”

The penultimate match in the four-test series starts in Perth on Friday with the last and final test in Adelaide from Jan. 24.