Brad Haddin says his injured shoulder won’t stop him batting on Saturday against Pakistan who are poised to claim their first Test-series win over Australia since 1994.
Australia will resume on the third day of the second Test on 1-22 in reply to Pakistan’s first innings of 6-570 declared.
Wicketkeeper Haddin injured his right shoulder while diving to take an attempted catch during Friday’s morning session and left the field twice.
“We believe Brad has injured his AC joint after falling on it,” team doctor Peter Brukner said.
“He will have treatment overnight and we are confident he will be able to bat.”
Pakistan lead the two-match series one-nil and on a pitch that offers little for the spinners and nothing for the quicks: a draw seems a likely outcome unless Australia collapse twice.
Haddin returned to the wicketkeeping role after the lunch break in a move he says was designed to ease the workload on back-up gloveman and opening batsman David Warner.
However Haddin was forced off the field again in the evening session before Pakistan’s run blitz finally ended.
The 37-year-old’s 59-Test career could be under threat if a serious injury is confirmed by scans.
“I haven’t gone for a scan. Scans only rule you out, not in,” the courageous ‘keeper said.
“I know enough about not going for a scan.”
Haddin said the second time he went off the field on Friday was caused by Australia taking the third new ball.
“It’s uncomfortable. With the new ball I didn’t think I’d get my arms up quick enough,” he said.
After taking six wickets in 164 overs, Australia’s day of humiliation ended appropriately with an early wicket in their first innings.
Chris Rogers was caught behind off Imran Khan’s bowling for five. Warner was unbeaten on 16 with nightwatchman Nathan Lyon on one when bad light stopped play after 5.2 of their scheduled 12 overs.
Pakistan’s first innings was dominated by Younis Khan’s patient double century.
Younis (213) added 236 for the third wicket with Azhar Ali (109) and 181 for the fourth wicket with skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (101) after Pakistan had resumed on 2-304.
Haddin praised Pakistan’s three century-makers and said Australia had kept fighting in difficult conditions.
“It was a pretty uncompromising wicket and we knew it was going to be that way for whoever lost the toss,” vice-captain Haddin said.
“It’s going to be a real test for us now to have our opportunity on this wicket and make sure if we get in that we’re selfish and go really big.”
Younis Khan’s milestones
* 27th Test hundred, most by a Pakistan player
* Fifth double-hundred
* 422 runs at average of 211 in series
* Joins Javed Miandad and Inzamam-ul-Haq in Pakistan’s 8,000-runs club
* Becomes the first player since England’s Herbert Sutcliffe in 1924-25 to make hundreds in three consecutive Test innings against Australia
* Azhar Ali’s 236-run partnership with Younis is a record for Pakistan for the third wicket against Australia.
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