Cricket: Haddin sledged because NZ too 'nice'

Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has come under fire for giving verbal sprays to New Zealand's batsmen in yesterday's World Cup final, but according to an Australian newspaper he has an intriguing explanation for his behaviour.

The Daily Telegraph reported on a phone interview that Haddin did with Sydney radio station Triple M this morning. When asked about his sledging of New Zealand batsman Grant Elliott at the MCG, Haddin gave a surprising answer.

"You know what? They deserved it," he said.

The reason why? Apparently it was because the Black Caps had been too "nice" to the Australians when they were in Auckland for the Eden Park match a few weeks ago.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Haddin appeared to have been sincere when making the comment.

"They were that nice to us in New Zealand and we were that uncomfortable," Haddin said.

"I said in the team meeting: 'I can't stand for this anymore, we're going at them as hard as we can.'

"It was that uncomfortable. All they were was that nice to us for seven days.

"I said, 'I'm not playing cricket like this. If we get another crack at these guys in the final I'm letting everything [out].'"

- nzherald.co.nz