Haddin won't follow Swann's footsteps

Cricket365
December 24, 2013

Wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin is not contemplating retirement, as Australia prepare for the fourth Ashes Test, which will get underway at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.

England spinner Graeme Swann retired from international and first-class cricket with immediate effect last week. At 36 years and two months, Haddin is considerably older than Swann.

"I've said for a while that as soon as I stop challenging myself out on the training paddock to become a better player is when I give the game away – but I still see a lot of cricket in front of me," said Haddin.

"I feel as comfortable as I have in this environment. I'm really enjoying where this team is trying to go, and the brand of cricket we're starting to play. I'm enjoying being challenged by the group to keep getting better and keep moving forward as a group."

The uncapped Scott Borthwick and the inexperienced James Tredwell have been added to the squad in the absence of Swann. Left-armer Monty Panesar, though, is likely to be the replacement in the XI. Earlier this month, batsman Jonathan Trott left the tour due to a stress-related illness.

"In a way it's different, it's like a little bit of a knockout blow. It is weird, with Trott going home and now Swann retiring, it is a bit different for us. We look at that and we don't know what to think, in a way. But credit to us, we're playing good cricket, we're three-nil up leading into a Boxing Day Test," added batsman David Warner.