Haddin wants to erase Ashes hurt

Australia’s Brad Haddin said on Monday the tourists are desperate to end their Ashes “hurt” when they face England in the latest edition of Test cricket’s oldest rivalry.

The familiar foes begin a five-match series at Nottingham’s Trent Bridge ground on Wednesday with England bidding for a third straight series win over Australia – something they last managed in the 1950s– after a home success in 2009 was followed by a first triumph ‘Down Under’ in 24 years in 2011. But vice-captain Haddin hopes the pain of those reverses will help fuel Australia’s bid to reclaim the urn.

“It hurts and that won’t go away,” the wicket-keeper said in Trent Bridge.

“We’d love to make amends for that in this series and our progress over the last few weeks has been good. “Now we’re just excited about one of the Tests being in a couple of days’ time. I think it’s important to live in the moment, there’s no point worrying what’s gone before.

“We can sit and talk about some great games in Australian cricket and English cricket, but it’s now about another exciting Test series in a couple of days’ time.

“It’s a new campaign now. New dreams are made and new experiences are about to be had so it’s important we move forward and enjoy this for what it is.” Haddin was less forthright about what role, if any, David Warner would play in Nottingham after he was suspended from Australia’s warm-up matches but cleared to play in the first Test after punching England’s Joe Root in a Birmingham bar last month.