Coach Arthur backs beleaguered Haddin

Brad Haddin has received the much needed backing from coach Mickey Arthur.

Perth: Australia`s beleaguered Test vice-captain and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin received the much needed backing from coach Mickey Arthur to fire in the third Test against India at Perth starting Friday.

The 34-year-old Haddin has been disappointing with the bat and the gloves as well during the first two Tests, which were won by Australia comprehensively against India. Arthur feels there was no need to press the panic button with Haddin. He grassed a regulation catch from Gautam Gambhir during the Sydney Test and his general glovework was beneath his best, often complicated by balls swinging after they had passed the batsman. "I still believe in Brad. I love his character. I love the way he is around the group. He is our vice-captain and he lives that role really well. I am confident we are going to get the best out of Brad in the Perth Test match," the South African was quoted as saying by The Courier-Mail. Haddin admitted that he was disappointed with his performance. "It`s disappointing to miss chances, we`d just gone up an extra metre to make sure the ball was going to carry, it just flew off. It dents your confidence a little bit but it happens," Haddin said on Sky Sports Radio. Arthur had a chat with Haddin after the Sydney Test and hoped that the wicket-keeper will bounce back in Perth. "We are just going to keep hammering it home with Brad. He did not have his best Test match by everyone`s admission. I think he will be fine. I had a nice chat with him after the Test. He`s fine. He wants to come to Perth and do well. You don`t see all the little things Brad does off the field. He gets stuck in. He works hard. He has an unbelievably good cricket brain," said Arthur. IANS