Haddin’s reputation on the line after glove incident
By David Wiseman, 2 Feb 2009 David Wiseman is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Australian Cricket, Brad Haddin, Cricket, Ricky Ponting, South Africa
A meaningless one-day match could cost Brad Haddin his international career and he has no one to blame but himself.
New Zealand were 4/106 requiring another 76 from 15 overs when it appeared Michael Clarke had bowled Neil Broom.
On closer inspection it was Haddin’s gloves which has dislodged the bails. Not suspecting anything, Clarke and the rest of his team-mates celebrated.
A sportsman lives and dies by his reputation and Haddin could have just coated his in mud.
The umpires are most certainly fallible but the cameras aren’t. At the very least, Haddin should have expressed his doubt and let it be referred to the third umpire.
After what happened against India, it should be drummed into every Australian player’s head that they have to be squeakier than Mr Sheen. They need to be seen to be going over and above what is necessary.
The fallout simply isn’t worth it and in what has been a long summer for Ricky Ponting is going to be made even longer.
If having to deal with one Andrew Symonds issue after another or losing Test and One-Day series to South Africa isn’t enough, now he’ll have to deal with questions about the integrity of his side. People have selective memories; long after they forget this game they will remember what Haddin did.
There is nothing wrong with pushing the envelope of competition within the confines of the law. What Haddin did was more breaking than bending.
Haddin made a sacrifice – he felt Australia winning the game was a higher priority than his reputation.
Wonder what he feels about this trade-off now?
Better still, let’s ask Greg Dyer who made the exact same sacrifice some 20 years ago and paid for it by never again playing for Australia.
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- Explore:
- Australian Cricket, Brad Haddin, Cricket, Ricky Ponting, South Africa


February 2nd 2009 @ 11:31am
Mick of Newie said | February 2nd 2009 @ 11:31am | Report comment
In defence of Ponting, I heard him take personal responsibiltiy for the Sth African series loss for not converting his 60′s into hundreds. In this case Ponting has made the mistake of backing his player without the full facts. Always a risk with players like Haddin.
February 2nd 2009 @ 12:09pm
JohnB said | February 2nd 2009 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
Cougar, unless you’re trolling in which case disregard, didn’t Steyn take a sump out of the ground while holding the ball to run out Tait? That’s what the laws allow/require when the wicket has already been broken, so no semblance of being “sneaky”.
February 2nd 2009 @ 12:12pm
RickG said | February 2nd 2009 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Ahh, the Indian press is going to have a field day with this …
February 2nd 2009 @ 12:13pm
David Wiseman said | February 2nd 2009 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
Ara – I think Simon Katich isn’t deemed a one-day player, the same way Justin Langer wasn’t deemed one.
El Capitan I – 100%
JohnB – He would have felt the ball go into his gloves. Either way, what did he have to lose by saying he wasn’t sure?
Harry – Good point.
The Cougar – I thought about it at the time. Basically lower-end batsmen get far less leniency than their top-order counterparts.
neilo – There would be some sort of qualification time he would have to wait but anyway I don’t think the States would be too happy about it.
yeebarr – Another good point. Not sure which of the other keepers is the next in line. Luke Ronchi?
Johnno – Umpire was Bruce Oxenford. He was third umpire at Sydney in the middle of the Bollyline storm. He is a very average umpire.
Mick of Newie I – Yes it will be very interesting.
El Capitan II – We’ll have to wait and see.
Mick of Newie II – Very good point. After Bollyline, I would have thought he’d act differently but doesn’t appear to be so.
February 2nd 2009 @ 12:29pm
sunshinecoaster said | February 2nd 2009 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
Thats right up there with the Greg Dyer incident,Haddin knew exactly what had happened and is a blatant cheat,anyone who try’s to spin any other way saying Haddin didnt know i suggest you go to youtube and watch it again.
February 2nd 2009 @ 2:06pm
hazey.the.bear said | February 2nd 2009 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
I think the question of whether Haddin knew his gloves knocked the bails is irrelevant…If he was aware that his gloves knocked the bails over, then there’s a huge element of dishonesty, and it’s disgraceful for Haddin and Aussie Cricket in general…If we give him the benefit of the doubt (and I’m talking a MASSIVE benefit of the doubt), then his wicket-keeping should be considered substandard at best or suspect at worst…Either way, there’s enough reason for me that he should be dropped from the ODI side…
February 2nd 2009 @ 2:10pm
sledgeross said | February 2nd 2009 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
Sunshinecoaster, instead of calling people “cheats” and telling them to watch youtube, how about gaining some practical experience before defaming anyones reputation. If you have had any experience in wicketkeeping at any level (and you may well have), you would know that when keeping to spinners, the gloves, bails and ball are all in close proximity and the keeper has nanoseconds to anticipate the path of the ball, actually take the ball and if needed, take the bails off. It all happens in less than a second, and things do get confusing, especially for the square leg umpire. Mistakes can and will happen.
Haddin reckoned that the ball clipped the bail before his glove did. If thats what he genuinely thinks, I think its pretty weak of you to call him a cheat. I agree that he still should have said he wasnt sure though as soon as he felt his gloves hit the stumps though, plus his gloves were clearly in front of the stumps too. Whats the umpire doing!
February 2nd 2009 @ 2:49pm
sunshinecoaster said | February 2nd 2009 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
sledgeross
Yes i have practical experience
A picture tells a thousand words,to me Haddin knows exactly what he did,he knows he clipped the bails and then would have felt the ball go straight into his gloves with the ball not deviating,i would have given Haddin the benefit of the doubt if the ball had struck the stumps then it may have been a case of not knowing weather his gloves took off the bail first or the ball,but gee the ball doesn’t even hit the stumps
To me its clear cut cheating,even his body language gave him away,im telling people to go to youtube because maybe like me they were flicking between the tennis and cricket and missed it last night.
so i stick by my thoughts,clear cut cheating,the only one defaming his reputation is Haddin himself
February 2nd 2009 @ 3:18pm
sledgeross said | February 2nd 2009 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
Fair enough mate, I must admit I was watching the ball/stumps’gloves and not his face, and I cant access youtube at work anymore lol
February 2nd 2009 @ 3:18pm
Harry said | February 2nd 2009 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
Hmmm, just rewatched the you tube footage and its not a good look, at all, for Haddin.
Sledgeross – As Ian Chappell says and what any keeper was taught from primary school days, you should never have the gloves in front of the stumps, or touching them, at any time.