Hussey, Haddin post record-stand for Australia

England trail by 202 runs on day three in the Ashes opener.

BRISBANE: Brad Haddin rated the England bowling as the toughest in Test cricket after he and Michael Hussey put their side into a strong position in the Ashes opener.

Hussey registered his highest Test score of 195 and Haddin contributed 136 in a Gabba record-stand of 307 to take Australia to a 221-run innings lead on the third day after being bowled out at 481. At stumps, England had reduced the deficit to 202. The Australian pair had to negotiate a testing period in the morning before coming through to build their stand.

“The first hour and a half was probably the hardest Test bowling I’ve ever had to face,” said Haddin, playing in his 28th Test match. “That first period was the toughest Test cricket you can get with [James] Anderson and [Stuart] Broad. The pleasing thing is that we came through the other side and put the result on the board.”

The pair’s partnership trumped the previous Gabba record of 276. Meanwhile,Steven Finn grabbed six wickets, brushing off the tail.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28^th, 2010.