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Well done BJ: Haddin calls it a day in ODIs

For all the plaudits Mitch Johnson received, Brad Haddin's bladework saved Australia on numerous occasions in the 2013 Ashes. (AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN)
Expert
17th May, 2015
18

It did not come as a surprise to me learning of the retirement of Bradley James Haddin from ODIs yesterday. After all he is over 37 years old.

And what a better way to go than after Australia won the World Cup beating New Zealand on the MCG about seven weeks ago. What a way to go!

He had to follow in the footsteps of illustrious wicket-keeper batsmen Adam Gilchrist and Ian Healy, but he did not suffer in comparison. That itself is a big compliment to him.

He is competitive on the field and jovial off it.

In 126 ODIs from 2001 till now, he scored 3122 runs at 31.53 and an exhilarating strike rate of 84.24, hitting two centuries (highest score 110) and 16 fifties. He took 170 catches and stumped 11.

Only Gilchrist and Healy made more dismissals in ODIs for Australia than he did.

In many ways, a wicket-keeper is like a pianist in an orchestra; there is room for only one. Haddin had to wait until Adam Gilchrist retired and made his Test debut at 30 in 2008. Having played his first ODI match in 2001, it was a long wait.

When he claimed his baggy green cap from skipper Ricky Ponting in Jamaica in May 2008, he became the 400th player to represent Australia in Tests.

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And what a debut! In the second innings, Australia was 6 for 70 when Haddin (nicknamed BJ) joined Andrew Symonds. They more than doubled the score and Australia won by 95 runs.

Despite the pain of a broken finger in the Caribbean three-Test series, he carried on bravely — averaging 30.20 with bat and took 16 catches.

One hopes he plays equally well in the Test series for the Frank Worrell Trophy in West Indies next month and then in the Ashes in England.

Haddin said yesterday, “I have had a privileged one-day career and I have been fortunate enough to be involved in three Cricket World Cups and now is the right time to walk away. Not many players get to write a script like mine at the end of their careers and I have been lucky enough to do just that after winning a World Cup on home soil.

“I leave the team with Australian ranked number one in the world [in ODIs] and I am proud of everything we have achieved.”

As Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said, “Whenever Brad wore the green and gold, he always gave maximum effort and he should be incredibly proud of his achievements.”

I had the privilege of interviewing Haddin a few years ago.

Your best cricket memory?

My Test debut and my maiden Test hundred. And of course winning World Cups.

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Best memory outside cricket?
Birth of my son Zac.

Any cricket in the family?
My father and brothers were all good sportsmen across several sports.

At which age did you realise that you wanted to keep wickets?
At 12 when I was the smallest player in the team so the only place to play was as a wicket-keeper. I was always a wicket-keeper, even at 12.

Who inspired you?
My father Ross, particularly when he won the 1983 Rugby League Grand Final playing for Gundagai.

Your heroes?
I grew up in Canberra and my heroes were Ricky Stuart and Laurie Daley.

Your favourite wicket-keeper?
Ian Healy.

Your favourite ground?
SCG

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Favourite Dismissal?
Stumping Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi off Darren Lehmann in Australian One-Dayer at the SCG, a great set-up dismissal.

Best Australian cricketer(s) of your time?
Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist among many others.

Best overseas cricketer(s) of your time?
Brian Lara

Any humorous anecdote?
Not really but Doug Bollinger makes me laugh! I find him humorous to be around!

Hobbies?
Property Development.

How do you relax?
BBQ and entertaining at home with family and friends.

One change you would like to see in cricket?
Either use technology in all dismissal decision-making or nothing.

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Thank you, BJ and cheers.

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