Brad Haddin spills the beans on Australia’s ‘rascals’

AUSTRALIAN cricketing great Brad Haddin has revealed which of his former teammates are the best on the grog.

Busted by the fielding coach.

IF THERE’S a greater relationship than beer and cricket, we haven’t found it yet.

From folkloric tales of David Boon sinking 50-plus tins of froth on the plane to England to countless crowd catches taken by spectators with mid-strengths in hand, it’s hard to deny the golden beverage has a firm place in Australian cricket history.

But who in the current Australian team is the best for a not-so-quiet one at the bar?

Most fans would agree Nathan Lyon would be a good laugh at the pub, and former Aussie wicketkeeper Brad Haddin agrees.

“Everyone wants to have a beer with the GOAT, Nathan Lyon,” he told Triple M’s Before the Ashes podcast shortly before outing the wildcards in the squad.

“(But) I think the Australian public needs to get to know these three quicks over a beer — (Mitchell) Starc, (Josh) Hazlewood and (Pat) Cummins.

“They’re really, really good people but also they’ve got that little naughty boy glint in their eye when they’ve had a few drinks and I’ve always said rascals win you comps, you need rascals in your team to win big moments and to push the envelope every now and then.”

Brad Haddin has spilt the beans.

The 66-Test star, who is now Australia’s fielding coach, said the baggy green’s top three pacemen had alter-egos after the cameras switch off.

“I know these three are pretty straight and narrow in front of the media but (when) you get a beer into those three behind the changeroom, they’ve got a lot of energy about them.

“But do not get stuck at the bar with Josh Hazlewood. He’s got hollow legs.”

Haddin had a memorable booze-affected moment of his own in 2015 after a hefty night of celebrations when Australia took home the World Cup against New Zealand.

Described by Steve Smith as “the drunkest man in the team”, Haddin gave a radio interview as the sun rose following a heated tournament of sledging between the home side and the runners-up.

“You know what? They deserved it,” he said, before painting a picture of the chaotic dressing room following the win.

“I’ve got a coach who’s spooning the World Cup who can’t speak. I’ve got James Faulkner who’s got his clothes off but don’t tell everyone — and I’ve got the Marsh boys, and you know, I can’t even talk about the Marsh boys because you know what trouble they have.”

Haddin later apologised for the drunken interview.

Rascals.

HADDIN: ‘I WAS REALLY DRUNK AT THE TIME’

Haddin also opened up on what could possibly be his noblest cricketing act after Michael Clarke broke down in the first Test against India in Adelaide in 2014.

The then-vice skipper was in charge of the Aussies as they ran through the visitors with seven wickets in the final session at the Adelaide Oval. Clarke’s injury eventually led to Steve Smith taking the captaincy, but it wasn’t always the plan.

Smith revealed Haddin gave away the opportunity to become Australia’s next permanent captain in his new book.

Former captain and commentator Mark Taylor sat down with Haddin for a beer after the game and laid out the veteran keeper’s future at the helm.

“I remember having a beer with Tubby that night at the bar and he said ‘are you ready to captain?” he said.

“I said ‘well I’m coming to the end, this is only a stop gap measure. Steve’s ready. Everyone knows he’s going to be the next Australian captain why not start now? I’m there to be vice-captain to help him if he needs anything’.

“I just didn’t think from the Australian cricket point of view it made any sense for me doing it for two Test matches you may as well let Steve have the opportunity while he had some senior players around him. And I was really drunk at that time.”

Originally published as Brad Haddin spills the beans on Australia’s ‘rascals’