What is Brad Haddin's future as Australia's vice captain?

I wonder how you can say that bout Haddin. He came in when Australia were bout 5 or 6 down for 21 and with wicketkeepers, they only know one way and that's to be positive and look for runs. Sure it wasn't a pretty shot but at least he had intent rather than the other batsmen who were on the back foot and looked to be going nowhere. It is worth noting that in that 2nd innings at Joberg when Australia chased down 310, a record at the ground, Haddin played a very important cameo innings of 55, shared in a 72 run partnership with Mitch Johnson which really put Australia into a winning position after they stumlbed to 5/165. He got Australia to 287 before he got out and from there, Australia were in the better position to win.

The fifth test should be his last. Wade is a better bat and cant do any worse than Haddins very inconsistent keeping. But if I had my real choice I would go for Paine and maybe Hartley. Good keepers first, and batsmen who make runs under pressure second

Can't believe Haddin ever made the team again. No better as a keeper than Wade and throws away his wicket at every opportunity. Watching Australia stumble to 47 is SA (i think it was 47) Haddin came out and batted like it was 20/20 until he went out for nothing. Again when Australia needed a partnership in the last test Haddin and Watson (the senior players) did nothing. I would stick with Wade or get Paine in. Both are far better bats, younger and at no worse with the gloves.

I like the consistency and maturity that Chris Rogers has shown thus far. Id be surprised if the selectors dont go with Haddin in the return series in Australia. If Rogers performs in the next series, and they decide to move on with a new keeper after the return Ashes series, then i reckon Rogers would be a good choice. His age means he wont be around for a long time, and it will give the other more youthful and immature candidates to stick their hand up through consistent performances and behavior on and off field. Does Siddle have a cricket brain? If he does, one certainly cant fault his performances, spirit and passion. What a shame that ego's and lack of man management has taken our best candidate, Simon Katich out of the running. Shame shame CA!

Haddin’s selection in the side and in particular as vice caption personifies the selectors thinking. Players are selected by looking wholly at their strengths not the vagaries of their weaknesses. Haddin’s glove work is not clean enough at Test level. He bats at about 35 – only just good enough – but he gets out too often too easily. Then just when you don’t expect it he bats like a match winner and you start to question why you thought he should be dropped He has been made vice-captain for this series (a big selection mistake) – I think he will be part of the collateral damage before the next test team is picked.

Judging from the history of Australian cricket vice-captains, I'd agree with "short". The position really does seem to be cursed.

Could not disagree with this statement anymore ... Haddin consistently goes missing with the bat when we need him eg the worst shot in history against South Africa when we were bowled out for 50 odd and always tries to slog his way out of trouble Hartley must get his chance at the Gabba

Keeping is another real weakness in the Aussie set up at the moment. People look at Adam Gilchrist and just think of his batting. But he himself looked at his batting as his secondary role and took amazing pride in his keeping and worked really hard on it. His glovework was such that Australia didn't sacrifice anything in that department in return for his batting when moving on from Ian Healy, and that's saying something. None of the current keepers are close to Gilchrist or Healy when it comes to their keeping. Haddin has taken a couple of freakish catches this series, but then missed ones he really should make because of poor technique. However, his glove work is so much better than that of Matthew Wade. There have been discussions of including Wade in the team as a batsman, but he's not really good enough for that either. If they did that it would be an injustice to a number of much better batsmen who were overlooked for him because he was just there and convenient at the time. If they are even considering this as an option then they should really be bringing on one or two other batsmen from the next-in-line list to consider. As far as VC goes though, Haddin is the only one there really ready for it. Warner looks to be someone who could be a really good, quality player for years to come. But I don't know that he has that much between the ears. And it's just way too early to be giving him that sort of role. Going with the fact that there is a dearth of options because it's such a young team, you could always just go with whoever the keeper is for VC. The keeper has the best view of so much that goes on, that he can be a great help to the captain as his deputy. If you appoint it that way and just say that's what's going on and it's not a statement suggesting this person is the next captain in waiting or anything like that, then it will probably work. The last thing these young guys who are just trying to find their way in the team need is to need to think about being VC. Though, I suppose in the current climate of dropping players after just a couple of bad matches without giving them a decent run, maybe being named VC makes it a bit harder to drop them so quickly and will give them a chance of having a proper run in the side.

Why do we need a VC? What role do they play. Surley senior players could offer advice to the C if needed without the need for the title? The Coach or Senior players could help with off field stuff if needed. Waner can get up thier noeses without a title. I'd keep Haddin until Neville or Paine prove themselves in the SS or whatever it is called now.

i dont really see any of this england team outside of anderson being affected much by someone getting up their nose. cook, trott and bell are too securely confident to be affected, prior and swann are too happy, kp is the last person you want to try and piss off because he thrives on that and the new guys both seem pretty secure and not easily frustrated by any antics haddin could do plus they have that core of confident guys around them as added protection. broad and bresnan maybe could be a little but as long as they keep winning and taking wickets and stay on top of the batsmen, which with this australian team isnt that hard, cant really see them getting annoyed.

I heard that the main reason that Haddin was brought back for the Ashes is because he gets up the English teams noses. A job that maybe reserved for Pattinson or Starc in future series given their propensity for a send off.

The red card might have been harsh, but they could easily have had Szczesny sent off instead.

Gunners will make a comeback mate.Its just a minor hicup.The red card was very harsh and thats why we lost.

Good read again tim. For me it's Haddin for a little bit longer. I really like Neville and if Haddin stays in the team for the aus summer then Neville gets a chance at nsw. I suppose that doesn't answer the question of vice captaincy though. Agree on all points regarding smith Watson Warner. And I personally think siddle would be a great vice but not so captain. So I'm hoping if Haddin is around for a little longer some one will pop up before he goes

Maybe in the short term a better option would be Chris Rogers???

Have to say it's Haddins tenacity with the bat that sets him apart from the other keepers on the short list. Just seems much more determined and level-headed in the tough situations than Wade did. Much more reliable and experienced enough to warrant VC status. With a few less years on him you'd have to have him down to replace Clarke as captain but I'm sure they'll be looking for someone who can take the helm for longer than Haddin will last.

Tim Paine's 4 test record is pretty good.Avg of 35,2 half centuries,16 catches.I think id rather Paine look stylish and not score runs than the rubbish that Smith calls batting and not score runs.Time to get rid of these back yard hatchet job batsmen i.e Smith,Hughes and Warner and try blokes with a bit of nouse and dont just throw the bat at the swinging ball -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.

Surely you must play x amount of test cricket before you can lead in it? Plus Paine is another Khawaja, people rate him as a batsman because he looks stylish at the crease while in reality he just doesn't make runs