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Haddin not getting carried away

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By Glen Robertson

Brad Haddin is refusing to get carried away after Australia moved into a dominant position on day two of the first Ashes Test.

After the wicketkeeper had reached 94 before being run out by an alert Michael Carberry, Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris shared seven wickets as England were skittled out for 136.

Australia then reached the close of play 65 without loss to give them a lead of 224, that puts them firmly in control at the Gabba.

But Haddin, perhaps haunted by the last Ashes Test in Brisbane - when Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott all scored hundreds as England posted a second-innings score of 517 for one to force a draw - is not taking anything for granted.

“We're in a good position after day two but there's a long way to go in this Test match,” he said. "We're only two days into a five-match series.

Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin narrowly missed out on a century on day two but the hosts took control of the first Test at Brisbane

“We've got to turn up again tomorrow, we know England will keep coming so we've got to make sure we're on it.”

Australia's bowlers were certainly on it today, with England slipping from 82 for two to 91 for eight.

Haddin believes the pressure built up by the hosts in the early stages reaped rewards later on, with 32-year-old Johnson impressing.

“We had to earn the right to get to that position,” he said. “I thought we built up some really good pressure leading up to Nathan Lyon's two big breakthroughs and Mitchell Johnson let some go.

“You always like to have a guy with Mitch's pace in your team. Any guy who can push the radar up near 150kph, no matter how well you're playing, can make it uncomfortable for the opposition.

“You have to earn the right to have sessions like that and I thought we built the pressure very well.”

This opening Test of the year's second Ashes series saw Haddin make his 50th five-day appearance, while during the England innings he took his 200th dismissal behind the stumps.

But the landmarks were not of interest to the 36-year-old, nor was the fact he missed out on a fourth Test ton.

“It shows I'm getting old,” he responded when asked about what the achievements meant to him. “When you start to get milestones like that it just means that you have more games behind you than in front of you.

“I'm just concentrating on the way this game is going. Those sort of stats are all well and good once you've given the game away.

“That was as well as I've played in Test cricket; I was pretty comfortable yesterday.

“You'd obviously like three figures but to get to the position we put the team in was more important than three figures for myself.

“It's important we keep trying to play the cricket we want over the next three days and get ourselves in as best a position as we can tomorrow.”


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