Eight months ago Brad Haddin left the tour of the Caribbean to be with his very ill daughter.
Matthew Wade then took the reigns as Australia’s number one keeper by scoring a hundred in testing conditions in the third Test against the West Indies. When Wade was picked over Haddin for the Test series this summer, his career looked all but over.
But good form during the Sheffield Shield, Big Bash League and a controversial decision to rest Wade (one of four Australian Test players rested from the ODI side) has Haddin back in the One Day International line-up and has a chance to stake his claim for a Test recall.
He couldn’t have done better in his first game back. It wasn’t Haddin’s batting that would please the selectors and coach but it was his glove work.
Haddin showed no signs of what was a mere shadow of himself last season, emphasised when he took one of the catches of the season late in the Sri Lankan batting innings. Dinesh Chandimal, who had been batting well for 73, edged one wide of Haddin’s right side when he dived and took a spectacular catch where he was almost completely parallel to the ground.
Matthew Wade, who was controversially rested for the first two ODI’s, has been in blistering form with the bat, but his glove work has been ordinary.
Yes, he is only 24 years old and has a long way to go, but with such a huge year of cricket coming up which includes a Test series in India, the Ashes in England, the Champions Trophy in England and the Ashes back home, Wade will need to improve his glove work dramatically.
This comes after John Inverarity stated that if they were to play two keepers, Wade would be the keeper and Haddin would play just as a batsman.
That could change quickly if Haddin continues his good form with the gloves and bat and if Wade can’t improve quickly enough.
It is likely that Australia will take two keepers to either India or England, but they should only have one keeper playing in the starting XI and not have one as just a batsman.
We know that the selectors have constantly slated Wade as the number one keeper, but this can change by the end of the Australian summer.
The selectors will have to examine closely the two keepers’ performances during the Tests, ODI and domestic games and determine who to play come India and the Ashes.
But right now, Brad Haddin’s career is far from over and he could well be on his way to the Ashes in July.
Bearfax
Guest
For ODI games yes there is a case. He does well in those games. Mind you at the moment he doesnt have much competition amongst the batting line up they keep picking. As for tests, we surely dont want to lose a batsman to include two wicketkeepers in the one side, one who would also be unfamiliar with general fielding work and is likely to be a liability. Our batting stocks are thin as it is. We need 6 batsmen, who can bat, a wicketkeeper who can bat and at least one or two bowlers who can bat at the moment to give us a chance of winning.
Jackson Nokes
Guest
Australia need to bring Haddin over because he had the second highest average against Sri Lanka in the odi's and for backup. But I actually like haddin better than wade
brian
Guest
Remember his effort in the Johannesburg record run chase in the 2nd test ? He was in a run a ball hundred with Mitch Johnson and scored a valuable 55. Both players have been rubbished and criticised heavily over the last 18 months yet both players played significant roles in that record run chase, including Ponting with a 62
sledgeross
Guest
Geez Phil, maybe you should watch more cricket. We've had plenty of weak shots in Ashes 05!
Philip
Guest
Does no one remember Haddin's effort at Cape Town just over a year ago? He should have been axed right there and then for probably the weakest effort by an Australian I have ever seen in test cricket.
Paulus
Guest
Don't agree...age should not determine selection. Haddin should be the keeper and Wade can work on earning his spot...he and others have a ways to go before being the same class keeper as Haddin...
dayno
Guest
Agree with Rohit. Haddin has had his time, he is too old. Wade deserves an oppurtunity as does Paine. If Cricket Australia is that desperate for experience, what ever happened to Simon Katich? Or perhaps bring back Shaun Marsh who is in great form. Haddin is not the answer in my opinion as Wade is only getting better and Khawaja surely would be next for a batsmen only role?
Jason
Guest
Healy was reportedly pretty scathing of Wade in the News Limited press today - particularly how the missed chances can start to create dressing room friction when the victim is a bowler struggling to keep his spot. And he said that Hartley should be ahead of Paine.
Rohit
Guest
Hehe well picked BearFax, i think sanjay meant to have someone else at 7. Haddin gets one good catch and we are trying to get the 36 year old back in, Wade is the future and Paine should be backup keeper. And Haddin can never be picked as batsman, the likes of Khawaja are well ahead of him along with Doolan and Cosgrove as backup batsman. Lets focus on the futuree and get the likes of Paine and Khawaja in.
WarneFan
Guest
Have to agree with Bearfax there Sanjay- Just by calling him by his last name and then his nickname isn't enough- it's got to be a different player altogether. And you'd have watto batting 7 (behind the keeper) even though he's given up bowling and become a batsman??
Bearfax
Guest
Sorry Sanjay. According to the rules of the game, a batsman can only bat once an innings
Sanjay
Guest
I agree my top 7 would be watson warner hughes khawaja clarke wade watto
Sanjay
Guest
I would be ok with Haddin as a backup keeper but to take him or wade as a batsman over someone like khawaja would be wrong as khawaja is a long term star for us and needs to be given a chance to show what he can do
Bearfax
Guest
He's playing well but Wade is playing better...full stop
Jason
Guest
He IS a good chance but shouldn't be.
Oracle
Guest
Tim Paine should be a better chance.