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As the Australian selectors chose Steve Smith over Brad Haddin to captain Australia in place of the injured Michael Clarke, it sent a message to the out-of-form Australian wicketkeeper.
Haddin, who has been averaging 8.36 in his past seven Tests, scoring only 92 runs, has been shown by the selectors that his experience won’t save him an axing from the Australian side.
The selectors choice of the younger, in form Smith was not only a sign of their future intentions, but also a sign that they are not entirely secure with Haddin’s position in the side.
With the Ashes series in 2015 quickly approaching, alongside a home World Cup for the first time since 1992, Haddin desperately needs runs to secure his place in the side.
Long gone are the days where a keeper was selected in the Australian XI for his skills behind the stumps alone, with a batting average of 35 at the very least needed to secure one’s place in the side.
There are many wicketkeepers around the country who are vying for Test selection, with all states supplying their own keeper to the Australian side.
Matthew Wade from Victoria has Test match experience, and has been in good touch with the bat, and kept neatly during the One Day series against South Africa. Chris Hartley has also been in good touch for Queensland, and many feel that he has earned his due with years of experience at a Shield level.
Tim Paine also has experience at Test level, and has a clean pair of hands behind the stumps for Tasmania. Sam Whiteman has been touted as Haddin’s future replacement, and the selectors could opt to give him early experience.
Tim Ludeman for South Australia has shown he is close to the purest keeper in the country, and is also handy with the bat, and Peter Nevill is a solid batsmen and a lovely wicketkeeper for the Blues, keeping for Australia A in Darwin.
Haddin has the remaining two Test matches to stave off the other keepers hunting for his spot, and secure his place. A score is desperately needed to show the selectors why he is still the best remaining wicketkeeper in the country.
Haddin brings a specific set of traits that Australian selectors love, with a beautiful set of hands behind the stumps, fantastic leadership skills and experience that is sorely needed.
The selectors want Haddin in the World Cup squad, and want him alongside Chris Rogers as the experienced old boys on the Ashes tour in what is expected to be a relatively young touring squad.
Brad Haddin is one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen Australia have produced, with years of consistent performances. He put his name into Ashes history with last year’s heroics against the English.
Haddin deserves to go out on top, and to have a say in when he will end his Test career. But he can only do so with a consistent performance in the next two Test matches, and a big score in one of them.
Make no mistake, the selectors want to have Brad Haddin in the Australian XI. But they can only do so with a performance from him.
With arguably the two biggest Tests of the summer coming up, Haddin has the perfect opportunity to quell rumors about his form and secure his place in the World Cup squad, and the Ashes touring party.
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