Former Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has refuted claims of Ben Stokes intimidating Australia during the all-rounder’s debut in Adelaide in the 2013 Ashes.

Against India at Rajkot, Stokes became the 16th England player to feature in 100 Tests. As Stokes geared up for the landmark Test, former England captain Mike Atherton paid tribute to his remarkable journey in the Times, referencing an on-field spat between Haddin and Stokes that originally appeared in an Inews.co.uk interview with ex-England pacer Steven Finn.

Atherton penned: “All the talent, ability, character and aptitude for the occasion at the highest level were immediately in evidence, following a stand-up confrontation with Brad Haddin, Australia’s experienced wicketkeeper, in the first match and a maiden hundred in the second.

“I wouldn’t get yourself much further into this one with him, mate,” Haddin was warned by Anderson in Adelaide, “he doesn’t quite know the difference between on and off the pitch, if you know what I mean.”

“Nutter,” said Matt Prior to Haddin, nodding in Stokes’s direction. Haddin did not utter a word after that.

“Immediately, Australia’s players knew they were dealing with a character to be reckoned with, and in Perth, after a brilliant hundred, they knew they were dealing with a cricketer to be reckoned with.”

However, Haddin hit back at the claims, bluntly debunking the anecdote on his Willow Talk podcast.

“My response is I’ve never heard more crap in my life. What, we were meant to be intimidated by Ben Stokes?” he asked.

Haddin top-scored for Australia in the first innings in Adelaide with a 177-ball 118 and had a reprieve when Stokes snared him off a no-ball when he was on 51.

Recollecting the incident, Haddin said, “I’ll tell you what did happen. There was a confrontation mid-wicket and we started it. He nicked me off for 50 (but it was a) no-ball.

“So I’ve walked back in and as I’ve walked past Ben Stokes I congratulated him on his first Test wicket. So I found my opening. He’s blown up and I’m going back at him. It was quite amusing.”

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