Brad Haddin's breakthrough century in the second Test against New Zealand hasn't relieved any pressure on Adam Gilchrist's successor.
The feisty Haddin, who scored a superb 169 from 222 balls on Sunday at Adelaide Oval to reach his maiden ton in his ninth Test, told his press conference that he had already been through his soul-searching period after a tough tour of India earlier in November.
“I think that sort of pressure is only coming from you (the press),'' the wicketkeeper said.
“He (Gilchrist) is arguably one of the best players ever to play the game and I can only trust whatever I do is going to be successful at Test cricket and not try to be anyone else.
“I think it's quite embarrassing, people keep mentioning Adam's name because he's been one of the greats of the game and I've played half a dozen Test matches.
“In India, at the back end of that tour, I started doubting myself a bit, putting too much pressure on myself.
“But the bottom line was I was doing all the work and all the right things off the field so I just had to trust what I was doing off the field. it's no more different than what I've done in state cricket,'' the 31-year-old NSW gloveman added.
“There's more scrutiny here because you're on the international stage so I just had to trust my preparation.
“I've felt pretty relaxed within the job. I've been enjoying the contest and enjoying the hard work.
“I don't think it'll really change my mindset too much, the way I go about things, it might get you blokes off my back for a couple of weeks, but apart from that I won't change my mindset.''
The Black Caps were 0-35 in their second innings at stumps, still trailing Australia by 230 runs after the home side piled on 535 in their first innings.
Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke played a disciplined knock, scoring 110 in five-and-a-half hours. His ninth hundred included 11 fours and Clarke shared a 181-run partnership with Haddin.
Clarke was thrilled to share the moment with his NSW team-mate and told him to cherish it.
“I've played first-class cricket for 10 years and I know it's a bit of a cliche but you dream about those days, scoring a hundred for Australia, so it was a pretty emotional time,'' Haddin said of his joyous celebrations upon reaching three figures.
After losing Mike Hussey (70) and Andrew Symonds (0) in third over of the morning, Clarke was on 48 when joined by Haddin at 5-247.
Gundagai product Haddin gave one chance before his ton and was dropped at mid-on off Daniel Vettori's bowling on 72.
Left-arm spinner Vettori bowled 59.4 overs and took 2-124 while Iain O'Brien worked hard for his 3-111.
Haddin was ninth man out, caught in the deep after smashing 24 fours and two sixes as Gilchrist looked on admiringly from the media area.
