Just a week or two ago, Brad Haddin was contemplating the end of another close (but not quite close enough) NSW Shield season.
He woke in Mohali during the Third Test to find himself battling trying keep out a mob of marauding Indian spinners while attempting to save Australia from a 0-3 Test series defeat.
It has been a busy week for the veteran gloveman and if Michael Clarke is ruled out of the final Test in Dehli his week could be even busier.
Brad Haddin, not Shane Watson, should captain Australia in the final Test of this humbling series.
Much has been made of the return of vice-captain Shane Watson and the seemingly straight forward ascension of a deputy.
But this would be no ordinary leadership transition.
That Watson would captain a team whose coach and high performance manager less than a week ago publicly questioned his on-field character could actually be hilarious if it didn’t seem so unnerving.
Would it not be funny to see an NRL, rugby or AFL player stood down one week for disciplinary reasons only for the next to be named captain of his club? Josh Dugan may captain Canberra yet.
There seem limitless reasons as to why Watson should not captain this side at this time, and not many of them are to do with cricket.
Right now, Watson as a leader is a potential flash point, perceived or not, that the Australian team does not need.
Having made their bed by taking a stand against their vice-captain, Arthurs and his management team must lie in it, however uncomfortable it may be.
Watson, for his part, should have scuppered any captaincy talk with his door step press conference at Sydney airport last week. You know the one, where he did everything but call Pat Howard’s comments out as lies.
And like a charming and untrusted flatmate keeping your girlfriend company while you’re not home, Michael Clarke would surely prefer to not leave the team in the hands of Watson at this time.
What Clarke and co. would give for superhero Mr Cricket to appear out of a Dehli phone booth? But in the absence of such miracles Watson should take a back seat to the more experienced and less divisive keeper.
This not to say Watson would be an ineffective captain, his time will come to prove it.
Nor is it to down play the professional attitude and adult sensibilities that should manifest through grown men being able to bury any hatchets for the good of a team.
This is to say that right now it just makes sense to leave alone the festering sore of what went on last week and use Haddin as a capable alternative remedy.
As anyone who has played team sports would attest, these kinds of events have a habit of lingering long after the brave faces denying any last damage have been wiped away.
Haddin’s calamine lotion as opposed to Watson’s potential scalpel, a soothing and experienced head to lead what will be one of the most inexperienced and under strength Australian cricket teams in recent memory.
There is also the simple fact that Haddin has had significant captaincy experience at state level and has enjoyed the confidence of being the previous VC of the baggy greens.
The series may be gone but there is a Test match to try and win, along with vital confidence to be gained for future English battles.
Haddin will be unburdened with the baggage so heavily weighing down the relationships of Australia’s four most senior Cricket personnel.
Travelling this lightly could only help a team in search of a badly needed victory and confidence boost.
Whiteline
Guest
For anyone who mentions Warner as a potential captain of any team (even the under 12 B) let alone the Australian team has no idea what they are talking about. In 'Davey's' world, 2 = 2 = 5...the guys can't string two words together...get a grip guys.
Argy Bargy
Guest
For Australia to be competitive, they have to pick 3 frontline seamers to sustain pressure and pick up wickets. They had the right idea at the start of the tour (except for the seam all rounder) but their thinking got muddled after that. If they go in with two seamers even on a raging turner, the Indians will be happy to sit back, play out the seamers and feast on the low quality spinners currently in the squad. My team, if Clarke is not fit: Warner Hughes Cowan Watson Smith Haddin Maxwell Pattinson Johnson Siddle Lyon If Clarke is fit, he replaces Hughes with Watson opening and Clarke at 4. Haddin over Wade as he is better against spin and the Indians do not fancy bowling to him.
MrKistic
Roar Rookie
But that's only if Clarke is injured right?
Jonny Boy Jnr
Guest
1. Arthur Morris 2. Matthew Hayden 3. Donald Bradman 4. Greg Chapple 5. Neil Harvey 6. Keith Miller 7. Adam Gilchrist 8. Ray Lindwall 9. Shane Warne 10. Dennis Lillee 11. Jeff Thomson
MrKistic
Roar Rookie
Yep, just like with George Bailey. Unfortunately Sheek, I think we can safely throw the rule book out the window at this point. So many terrible, against the bleeding obvious decisions keep being made and as far as I can tell, nobody is responsible for them. How is it that if Clarke is injured, we've now come down to the choice of captain between a bloke who is a giant sook, who agitates for whatever position he feels like in the team, who has just been stood down for a test for failing to do as required and who doesn't even warrant a place in the team on batting form alone, or a bloke who was dumped from the team a year ago and has just been recalled to cover an injury and, coincidentally, just happens to be about the most experienced bloke in the squad? Seriously, where is the forward planning? We've had 2 years to get this right. We knew there was an Indian tour coming up and we picked a 2nd spinner based on his limited overs form while ignoring the best performed Shield spinner. We've got an Ashes tour coming up in England after this and our batting is a rabble. We knew Ponting and Hussey could go any minute and who have we picked? Maxwell? Henriques? They were never going to turn into polished players in an instant. Fortunately, and perhaps surprisingly, Smith looks to have sorted himself out enough to have the possibility of doing okay. In the meantime, Khawaja is on the sidelines and can't get a look in and Hughes needs a psychologist on the pitch with him just to get through a tour. Arthur keeps making comments about how much he hopes a player will come good while pining for the return of Hussey in the public, which says what to the players currently in the team? Not to mention what it says about our esteemed coach and selector. It's just a schemozzle all 'round at the moment and despite the recommendations of the Argus report, it's getting worse not better. I'm just about at the point now of not being able to follow it any more. A bit like politics in Australia, it's just got so stupid that there's no almost no point in even listening to them.
Cantab
Guest
I agree it should not be Watson, Haddin is a good call, as long as he has the players support and tactical knowledge. (?) Important to remember that a cricket captain is substantially different from almost any other sport in that the importance of tactical ability probably out weighs leadership ability.
MrKistic
Roar Rookie
That he'd be a decent bet in the Ashes squad based on his limited overs form. The thing is he probably would be, but it would be a bet only. Picking on form in the format is what the Argus report recommended no? Yeah, uhhhh, just like Maxwell and Doherty...
Vivek
Guest
I like your side DJW
Vivek
Guest
Indians will be praying Maxwell plays
Vivek
Guest
His selection has made a mockery of the baggy green, once again Khawaja looks to miss out, he will probably be the only player not to play this series as Johnson may get a bowl
Tony
Guest
If Clarke is ruled out,here is my team: Warner Watson Cowan Hughes Kawaja Smith Wade(as a batsman) Haddin(w/keeper) Johnson Siddle Lyon Watson will be made captain,but Smith will be appointed vc
Vivek
Guest
Yes the team listed by Red Kev is good, Wade over Haddin if he is fit
Vivek
Guest
All a bit of a debacle if you ask me, it will cost Arthur after this series, boof should start getting his CV ready
Vivek
Guest
lol, yes Koala Khawaja for captain, but really i would be so happy for him to get a game, that's good enough, let him show his class to the rest of the world
Vivek
Guest
Yes good article Kurt, very well written
Clavers
Guest
I agree that "with some work Smith's bowling could be an asset." In fact, that's what I thought three years ago when he made his debut. He should have been spending the past three years practicing two hours a day bowling to a target. If he'd done that he would be world class now. I hope he still gets up the resolve to do it.
Oracle
Guest
+1
Oracle
Guest
Agree
DJW
Guest
Rest maybe the wrong word. Omitted might be better. His shot to get out in the second innings really annoyed me.
sheek
Roar Guru
It's a nice idea, but it won't happen (Haddin as captain). Keith Miller should've captained Australia, but instead they gave the gig to Ian Johnson. Should've, could've, would've..... It's a time honoured tradition that Australia picks its best XI, then it picks its captain from that XI. Usually this goes to one of the best & most experienced members of the side. That's usually how it works..........