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The current Ashes series has shown a majority of the current Australian players as either being out of their depth or among the highest class in the game.
One who sits outside these two categories is Brad Haddin, who is the only true enigma.
The Aussie wicketkeeper has answered many questions for the team, but he has also posed more perplexing ones for them.
His violent inconsistencies stick out like a sore thumb, whether it be with bat or gloves. For every act of brilliance that compels us to stand and laud him, there is a moment of gut-wrenching incompetence just around the corner.
With the Ashes lost, the question must be posed about Haddin’s future in the team, and whether it would be better served in replacing him.
With the future composition of the Australian team in mind, the situation over Haddin’s place becomes murky. It is not just a case of replacing a wicketkeeper-batsman, but also the team’s vice-captain
Haddin has excelled in his support of captain Michael Clarke and his presence as a leader on the field is valuable. You only have to revert back to how shambolic the team was in India with Shane Watson in the role to know how well Haddin has done.
Both tours have been similar in how comprehensive the beating has been, but where the team fragmented and evaporated without trace in India, they have shown real resolve and pride in the Old Dart.
People will attribute this to Darren Lehmann’s effect as new coach, and he has done a great job of getting the players in the right mindset; but he does not control their work on the ground.
Haddin, in perfect harmony with Clarke, has maintained an intensity of effort, and made the defeats easier for fans to accept because they have at least displayed a sustained effort.
Here is where the grizzled veteran has the selectors ‘stumped’ if any move is made to replace him.
No one else in the team is ready to take his leadership role. Of the possibilities, the only viable one would be Peter Siddle, but you could never see one as conservative in their thinking as Australia choosing a bowler to lead, even if they would silently know that Siddle would be a true gem.
How about the rest?
Shane Watson – I am sure Michael Clarke would love take two of this call.
Dave Warner – A seemingly reformed character, but you never quite know what’s around the corner..
Steve Smith – Would be a great choice, but first needs to prove he is able to deal with the demands of Test cricket.
Harsh truth would deem that these three are ‘options’ in name alone meaning Haddin is the only real choice as vice.
Away from the leadership conundrum is his rival as the nation’s best gloveman.
His understudy Matthew Wade, as poor Nathan Lyon found out in India with Wade’s frequent gaffes behind the stumps, is not a wise option.
Which leaves three others, in Chris Hartley, Tim Paine and Peter Nevill as viable replacements.
Sadly for the Queenslander Hartley it seems he might appear in articles in the future discussing the unluckiest players to not play Test cricket, as he has constantly been overlooked by national selectors.
This leaves Tim Paine and Peter Nevill.
Both are in their prime at 28 and 27 respectively, are very accomplished glovemen as well as being refined batsmen. There is a key issue with both, however. In Paine’s case it is his absence of form with the bat, and in Nevill’s it’s the fact that he’s stuck behind Haddin as New South Wales’ second-choice keeper.
Which only really leaves Paine as an option, and the fact that he was lauded by all as a future Australian leader means that if he lights it up in the Sheffield Shield early he might be a shock choice as not only Australia’s keeper/batsman, but next vice captain
Especially if the Brad Haddin from the first two Ashes Tests replaces the Brad from the last two Tests…
What would you do as selector?
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