September 27, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 26, 1429

JAIPUR (India), Sept 26: Resilient Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin said Friday he would bank on former great Ian Healy’s tips to achieve success in the upcoming Test series in India.

Haddin, who played his maiden Test series against the West Indies this year with a broken finger, said he consulted Healy who had experience of playing in Indian conditions.

“His (Healy’s) tips will help me a lot,” Haddin told reporters here ahead of the four-Test series starting in Bangalore on Oct 9.

Healy toured India with Mark Taylor’s side in 1996 and 1998, scoring 194 runs and taking seven catches in four Tests.

Haddin added that he did not believe the home advantage would help India as the tourists had also been training in these conditions for nearly a week.

“We are now prepared for the challenge,” he stated. “We were lucky to have a practice session for a week in Jaipur where there are excellent facilities. The training here will help us adapt to the conditions when the series starts.”

Haddin caught the eye as a gutsy lower-order batsman on his previous visit to India in 2007 when he scored 200 runs in four ODIs with two half-centuries.

He first came to India in 2001 as cover for wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist, but returned without playing a Test. He then had to wait for seven years to play his first Test despite making his one-day debut in 2001.

Haddin got the Test opportunity only after Gilchrist’s retirement early this year.“I really enjoyed the atmosphere over here last time. It was different with the crowd and the heat, but it was something you don’t often experience,” said the 30-year-old.—AFP