Brad Haddin out of 2nd Ashes Test due to 'personal reasons'

Haddin with wife and daughter Mia

Brad Haddin is going to give the second Ashes Test a miss because of personal reasons. 

Haddin has had a tough family life behind the scenes. Though the reason has not been made clear, Haddin’s family has been his priority ever since his daughter Mia got diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, neroblastoma, while he was in West Indies in 2012. 

Haddin did not train on Tuesday. 

England lead the series 1-0. In the first Test, Haddin did not perform well because of Alastair Cook’s wonder-catch at the bowling of the rising star that is Moeen Ali. He made 22 and 7. He was criticised for dropping Joe Root at 0.

29-year-old Peter Nevill is to replace Haddin. He was selected in Australia’s Test squad once before too, in the 2012 tour of West Indies, when Haddin had to fly back because his daughter was diagnosed then.

Optimistic Siddle believes Australia can pull off 1997 again

"We need to perform better with bat and ball," said Siddle, according to BBC Sport. "Our standards over the last couple of years have been high quality but we let that slip in Cardiff. What we have been is very consistent with our bowling and our line and length but we were not anywhere near our normal high standards - and that showed.

Despite the first loss, Siddle is still optimistic. "But the boys are upbeat and want to turn things around - I can see a different contest this week. I remember in 1997 we lost the first Test and still won the Ashes. We will be playing strong and aggressive cricket and we will be looking to level the series."

England, however, is not making the mistake of becoming complacent after one win.

Opener Lyth said, "Australia are number one in the world for a reason so they will come back stronger and we have to counter that and keep playing good solid cricket. We played fantastically well at Cardiff and maybe we're the favourites, but we have to get down to business and prepare well. If we play like we did at Cardiff and against New Zealand then we will be fine."