As Adam Gilchrist plays through the twilight of a wonderful career, Simon Katich has no doubt Brad Haddin is “ready to go” as the next Australian wicketkeeper when required.

Gilchrist, who turns 36 next week, admitted yesterday he wasn’t sure if he would play on next summer, although the way he was feeling at present the intention was to “try and get right through.”

The left-hander has redefined the role of glovemen the world over and his eventual departure has been tipped to leave a huge gap in a team already undergoing generational change with the departure of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn.

However Haddin’s recent form has shown the loss won’t harm the national team nearly as much as expected.

Maturing nicely at 30, Haddin has been in irresistible batting touch, peeling off centuries in his two outings since returning from a fine limited overs tour of India for Australia last month.

On that tour he earned a berth in the team as a batsman – something Gilchrist did at the outset of his international career alongside Ian Healy.

NSW skipper Katich has played plenty of cricket alongside both Gilchrist and Haddin, having switched from Western Australia to NSW for the start of the 2002-03 season, and said Haddin was more than ready.

Katich likened Haddin to Blues teammate Stuart Clark, who slipped seamlessly into the Test side as Glenn McGrath moved closer to the end.

“There is no doubt Brad has done his apprenticeship and he is ready to go if an opportunity arises,” Katich said.

Haddin’s numbers make impressive reading, he tallied 669 Pura Cup runs at an average of 55.75 and 406 runs in domestic one-dayers at 67.66 with a strike rate of 104.10 last season.

“Gilly’s record speaks for itself but Hadds has taken his opportunity and it is like guys filling Glenn McGrath’s role, Stuey Clark is filling that role beautifully,” said Katich.

“I am sure if Hadds was given an extended run he could do the same sort of job.”

Katich hopes the Blues can ignite their stuttering start to the one-day season, the fourth-placed NSW only picking up two points from their first three matches.

“Our one-day stuff has been pretty ordinary but having said that all we need to do is get on a bit of a roll and win a couple of games and we have the guys to do it, we just have not clicked yet,” he said.

The winless Redbacks have drafted the as yet unfulfilled talent of Callum Ferguson into their squad following Shaun Tait’s withdrawal due to his recurring elbow problem.

It is a measure of Ferguson’s fall from international hopeful two summers ago to fringe dweller in a glaringly weak batting team today that he isn’t yet sure if he will play.

“I’m really keen to get in there and hopefully get a game, it gives you a bit more steel about you, especially when you have to train so hard and put in the hours I have,” Ferguson said.

“Being around training gives me an idea of the mood and the guys seem to be still enjoying their cricket.”

Teams

South Australia: Nathan Adcock (c), Mark Cleary, Mark Cosgrove, Daniel Cullen, Andy Delmont, Matthew Elliott, Callum Ferguson, Jason Gillespie, Daniel Harris, Ryan Harris, Darren Lehmann, Graham Manou (12th man tba)

New South Wales: Simon Katich (c) Doug Bollinger, Nathan Bracken, Mark Cameron, Ed Cowan, Peter Forrest, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Grant Lambert, Matthew Nicholson, Stephen O’Keefe, Dominic Thornely (12th man tba)

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