Brad Haddin. app images
Like all the other heavy scorers in Australia’s first inning (Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey and Marcus North), Brad Haddin failed to reach century in the mammoth first innings total at Perth.
In the end, his innings that started off with a series of bangs, with 9 fours in his 50, ended with a whimper with a tame back defensive shot to Kunnar Roach, which yielded a thin edge for the keeper to catch.
But it was the best batting in the Australian innings.
Watson was dropped early and was scratchy from to time; Katich jabbed and poked around accumulating runs rather than amassing them; Hussey was more authorative with some vigorous legside pulls. However, he was dismissed very easily in the first over he faced on the second day.
And North was solid without being interesting or explosive.
Haddin immediately set about the bowling when he came into bat. There were gorgeous offside drives and vigorous slog-sweeps (in the Stephen Waugh manner). He took the attack to the bowling and looked the part of a genuine batting keeper.
Early on in Australia’s cricket history, keepers were selected for their excellence behind the stumps. The best of these keepers – Carter, Oldfield, Tallon, and Grout – were handy enough batsmen, without being dominating at the crease.
Rod Marsh was the first batsman/keeper, an all-rounder capable of winning a match, especially ODIs, with his batting more than his keeping.
Ian Healy was more a keeper/batsman in the old school tradition. I always believed, though, his keeping was over-rated. He didn’t seem to miss many catches, especially on the legside, simply because he rarely attempted to snaffle them.
Adam Gilchrist was a pre-eminent batsman/keeper.
His keeping was often sloppy, mainly because as a tall player, he sometimes had difficulty getting his feet in the right place to take sharp catches. But his batting, with an average of over 50, was often match-winning.
He scored very quickly and ferociously, so that bowling attacks were often terrorised by his onslaughts.
Haddin, his successor, after an initially tentative start to his Test career, both as a batsman and as keeper, is reviving memories of the Gilchrist glory days. His keeping now – but not earlier – is superior to that of Gilchrist.
Early on I remember writing pieces for The Roar suggesting that he was not up to Test standard as a keeper or as batsman.
Wrong and wrong.
Haddin’s batting is becoming Gilchrist-like, although it is doubtful whether Australia or any other team will provide the cricket world with another Gilchrist. His keeping is already better than Healy’s, in my opinion.
In his 88 on Thursday, Haddin whacked 11 fours and two sixers. Fast runs like this tend to set up wins in Tests. His Test batting average is now just under 44, a splendid figure that he is likely to push up over the next few years.
He is now 32, having to wait an inordinately long time for Gilchrist’s career to play itself out.
He has played 22 Tests.
Wicket-keepers tend to play on longer than bowlers and leading batsmen, so Haddin, form and fingers hopefully staying intact, can look forward to at least two more Ashes series, perhaps even more.
That is for the future. Right now we can say with some confidence, come on down Brad Haddin as a great batsman keeper.
Chop
Guest
Haddin isn't a great keeper, he's adequate with the gloves, had played as a specialist batsman in ODI and T20. Would've been close for test matches as well. I think he, McCallum, Sangakkara, Dhoni and Sangakarra as well as Gilchrist of course are all rounders, they have two distinct skills which are just as valuable as someone who can bat and bowl.
Fisher Price
Guest
Am I entitled to my view now too?
whiteline
Guest
If you isolate 2005 then I guess you can throw the whole team in the mix, bar perhaps Ponting. You're entitled to your view of course!
andrew
Guest
I think you may have forgot the ashes 2005 Just to quickly sum it up when the presuure is on in the fourth innings with the game on the line, Gilchrist scores as such 2nd Test, 1 run off 8 balls strike rate 25.0 = England Win by 2 runs 3nd Test,4 runs off 36 balls strike rate 13.33 = match just drawn 4th Test,(Australia forced to follow on) 11 run off 11 balls strike rate 100 = England Win As i said Gilchrist is a great batsman to win but not to draw, give me Heally for that Job any day..
whiteline
Guest
A draw? Why play for a draw when you can win? Gilchrist's second test vs Pakistan - aust 5/126 chasing 369? I guess he could've played for a draw.... I could give many more examples if you wish. Also, he took more dismissals to Warne than Healy at a greater rate - I think you have fallen for the old "Batting is so good that he can't possibly be a good keeper as well" trick.
andrew
Guest
Whiteline if you have read my comment, I said "i rate Gilchrist as a batesman who can win a game' not as a keeper. Also iIthink no one is saying he was a good glovesman. I am making the point that he was not as grittty as Heally. If there was a session to play and Australia are 7 or 8 down with the only hope being a draw, which keeper would you choose to salvage a draw with the tail - Heally or Gilchrist? I would take Heally everyday of the week! If you are going to comment read the post properly!
Whiteline
Guest
Andrew & Fisher Price - big calls boys...I love you guys who have obviously played the odd match on the carpet in suburbia who have these educated opinions on the merits of players such as Gilchrist. I wonder why the majority of judges (including Richie B and the Don) who know a thing or two about the game rated him in the very top few to have played cricket. Keep it going lads....brilliant humour
Frank
Guest
He is a poor glovesman. His behaviours are poor. His actions in the Benn incident were embarassing, a disgrace and at best a recollection of Ian Healy at his worst. Not sure where Spiro is coming from - there are better batsman and certainly better keepers. We've sacked better.
Darwin hammer
Roar Rookie
what final ?
Jameswm
Guest
Huh? Gilchrist walked in a world cup final. Was the pressure off there?
Darwin hammer
Roar Rookie
absolutely correct - and I'd also apply that to the "Gilchrist is a walker" concept - easier to be a perceived walker when the pressure is off ...
andrew
Guest
Hadden is an average keeper, but Gilchrist was very average. I am a big fan of Gilchrist as batsman, but i think he lacked the grittiness of Healy. Gilchrist rarely came in with the pressure to save a match was on, with the exception of the 2005 ashes (which he failed at). Whereas Healy was amazing at digging in to save a match (with the exception of his compulsive hooking). In conclusion Gilchrist could win a match where as Healy could save a match. Gilchrist played through the Glory years, Healy played through formative years. Anyone got some thoughts?
Fisher Price
Guest
I don't think Gilchrist was a great keeper neither.
Justin
Guest
Goodness Spiro - his keeping is very average as many posters have said. Paine and Manou both superior wicket keepers.
Bunratty c
Roar Rookie
....and except for Mr Gayle and his opening partner
Bunratty c
Roar Rookie
except for Mr Haddin (and probably Mr Ian Chappell, if he pontificates)
Brett McKay
Guest
"..who all looked tentative initially & somewhat fragile throughout their innings." Bunratty, you've just described every innings played by every batsman at any level in the history of cricket...
Bunratty c
Roar Rookie
I think Spiro's point is that Haddin's innings stands out on account of his immediate aggression that was controlled and precise. His performance was easily the classiest of the oz batsmen who all looked tentative initially & somewhat fragile throughout their innings.
Darwin hammer
Roar Rookie
Agree with those above - he's not that good a keeper.... he won't be considered in high esteem by other test playing countries (like Gilchrist, Healey, Marsh) as he's seen as a cheat ... throw in the bust up yesterday - which he really didn't need to get involved in - and possibly inflamed ... all adds up to far too many debits on the balance sheet ...
Brett McKay
Guest
No doubt Tim Paine's performances with bat and gloves in England and India have given Haddin the boot up the bum he needed. He's played very well this summer, in both roles, but with Paine and even Matthew Wade from Victoria breathing down his neck, he knows he plenty challenging him for his spot..