Brad Haddin has reiterated that all his focus heading into the English summer is about retaining the Ashes for Australia.
“I know there is speculation with the age I am,” the 37-year old Australian wicketkeeper told Cricket Australia’s website, amid increasing murmurs of the upcoming Ashes being his last international assignment.
“But I haven’t really sat down and had a really good think about it.
“I’m enjoying my cricket where it’s at, at the moment. We’ve got a massive campaign coming up and you cannot have clouded views on ‘I might finish here’ or anything shrouding your thought process going into a campaign like that.
“A series like that is as big as you get and I wouldn’t do myself or my teammates justice if I was thinking about anything else.”
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The wicketkeeper is also confident about his body holding up against the rigours of international cricket.
“At my age, I’m meant to say my knees are no good or my back hurts. My fingers, there’s a few titanium pieces holding it together but I don’t have any problems,” Haddin said.
“I pride myself on making sure I prepare as best as I can and I’ve had a great few weeks at home to get my body back into shape for the next campaign. So I actually don’t have any wear and tear.”
Haddin played in the team that took on the West Indies in the first Test while the second begins in Kingston on Thursday. Peter Nevill is in the squad as his understudy just like Haddin was tagged along side Adam Gilchrist in 2005.
“He carries my bag,” Haddin joked. “No, on long tours, it can be hard for the guys not playing.
“But the sign of a truly good touring party is the stuff that a lot of people don’t see away from the cricket field. The little things they do to help us prepare and the extra training they do away from everyone to make sure they’re right to play.
“I’ve been in that position a number of times. It’s the best time of your life, actually – no pressure. It’s been great to have him round.”
Haddin, who played a key role in Australia’s 5-0 rout of England at home last year, has been part of just one Test win in England despite having been part of two different Ashes tours.
The veteran of 64 Tests said he realises the extra significance of the upcoming contest.
“From an Australian point of view, we haven’t had success in England for a long time. I’ve never had the privilege of holding the urn up over there (in England).
“That would be a dream for not only me but this entire group. We’ve come a long way as a team over the last 12 to 18 months.
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