Haddin, Hughes deny 'arrogant' tag

Former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin doesn't believe Australian cricket morphed into an arrogant and bullying culture, and says it's important for everyone to finally move on from the ball tampering scandal.

It's a view shared by former fast bowler Merv Hughes, who said "arrogance is one word I don't associate with the Australian cricket team".

An independent report in the wake of the sandpaper scandal in South Africa painted a grim picture of Cricket Australia's culture.

Haddin was part of the Test team from 2008-2015, while Hughes played 53 Tests between 1985 and 1994 before a stint as a national selector.

When asked whether words like arrogant and bullying were fair descriptions of Australian cricket of the past, Haddin replied: "No, I don't think it is.

"The independent review got done, everyone gets to have their say openly and honestly, and that's what you want.

"From our point of view, we're moving forward. It's been six months since South Africa. A lot of water has gone under the bridge.

"We've got start rebuilding the cricket team to start winning games for Australia and get a cricket team that Australia can be proud of."

Hughes, who said he is still closely connected to the behind-the-scenes workings of the Australian men's team, said the report left him scratching his head.

"I'm a little bit sceptical about the report," Hughes told SEN Breakfast.

"I know a lot of time and effort has gone into it and basically what you see on the surface is a lot different to what you get behind the scenes.

"I'm still privileged where I get the opportunity to get behind the scenes and arrogant is one word I wouldn't associate with the Australian players.

"You sit there and scratch your head a bit and say: 'has it been worthwhile?' A lot of people are going to read this and make of it what they want.

"Arrogance is one word I don't associate with the Australian cricket team."

Australian cricket has been criticised for a win-at-all-costs mentality, something the report disputed, but rather said CA had fostered a philosophy to 'win without counting the cost'.

Haddin said it was important to win, but it needed to be achieved in the right manner.

"No matter what sport you play, you always want to win," said Haddin, who is now an assistant coach to Justin Langer in the Australian set-up.

"But you've got to do it with humility. We're all involved in sport to win games and grow cricket teams.

"But there's a right and a wrong way to do it."

Hughes said he believed the Australian team respected the game.

"There's a fine line between confident in your own ability and arrogance and once you become arrogant you don't respect the opposition and you don't respect the game," said Hughes.

"If you've got the opportunity to get within the Australian cricket team that's not the case, the case is they respect the game, they respect the opposition, they play hard and they play to win. Some people think that's arrogant – I don't."

Australia endured a miserable tour of the UAE, losing to Pakistan 1-0 in the Test series, before copping a 3-0 pounding in the T20s.

Players will get the chance to atone during the three-match Gillette ODI series against South Africa, starting in Perth on Sunday.