Former Australian wicketkeeper Manou says axing may be good for Haddin

Sydney, Feb 15(ANI): Former Australian wicketkeeper Graham Manou has said Brad Haddin's axing from the Australian one-day team could help him find top form for the Test tour of the West Indies.

Manou, Haddin's wicket keeping deputy on the 2009 Ashes tour in England, said he expected Haddin would benefit greatly by playing in the New South Wale's last three shield matches.

"I reckon it is going to be good for 'Hadds' to go back, play and have almost like a pre-season of sorts, where he gets to play cricket and work on the things he wants to work on without the constant scrutiny of a Test [and ODI] match scenario," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Manou, as saying.

"It will give him a chance to think about himself more because he's taken on a fair workload over the course of the summer," Manou said.

He said Haddin had revealed to him that he was mentally drained during the Big Bash League and the Sheffield Shield matches can help him regain his form.I remember him saying during the Big Bash that he felt mentally drained, so I reckon we'll see a different Haddin, hopefully through the shield stuff, and come the West Indies he might be back somewhere near his best," Manou said.

"He's always been a fighter, a bulldog-type of guy to play against," he said. (ANI)