Brad Haddin should be shielded from international T20 cricket after the tour of the UAE.
This is based on what happened earlier this year, when Australia wilted in the T20 World Cup. Haddin seemed jaded from a long summer of cricket and the consequences of a repeat in either the home World Cup or the Ashes could be serious.
My reasoning goes deeper than that though. Aaron Finch’s appointment as captain signals a new beginning and is designed to end Australia’s drought at the international T20 World Cup.
Haddin is unlikely to be playing by the time of 2016 T20 World Cup. While international T20s this summer to me don’t symbolise anything other than inflamed ear drums in the grandstand and trampolinists telling us when we should scream, a successor will need all possible experience.
Unfortunately Matthew Wade is far from convincing as a replacement.
Before I say why, let me just say I feel for any wicket-keeper batting at seven in T20 cricket. If you are doing your job well, no one’s going to notice you. How many people remember the excellent work of the West Indies Denesh Ramdin in the T20 World Cup?
Honestly, I only did through researching for this article.
Ramdin’s success does however, highlights why Wade would be a risky choice. Ramdin was high class keeping to the likes of Samuel Badree, while Wade’s continuing struggles in that area have been exposed.
Granted Australia’s T20 attack doesn’t revolve around spin but I think it will soon with options such as James Muirhead, Xavier Doherty and Steve O’Keefe. Sam Whiteman would constitute a better option than Wade.
While batting is of secondary importance with picking a keeper, Whiteman would do well to improve his strike rate. If he could lift it from the current mark of 118.23 to around 140, it would help secure a position and bridge the gap between Australia and the likes of Sri Lanka.
When Haddin does eventually retire from cricket, he should be fondly remembered. I’ll put my hand up and admit I am astounded at just how successful he has been since his return.
Since Adam Gilchrist debuted, wicket-keepers are often judged on their batting. Haddin won plaudits for his regular bail-out jobs during the Ashes. I admired his wicket-keeping more because it has been visibly improved from when Wade overtook him in the West Indies in 2012.
As a one-day player, the shock defeat to Zimbabwe showed his importance as a batsman alone and has been an efficient wicket-keeper with few mistakes. Like a good carpenter, not much wood gets wasted.
His leadership has been first-rate, in the capacity of knowledgeable elder. Off-field he has been important in galvanising team spirit from the nadir of India 2013, while on-field he is a reliable source of advice for any captain.
Australia will rely on Haddin to continue these fine attributes for the foreseeable future in two formats of the game. With the schedule buttoned up to its eyeballs, why burden him further when it is not necessary?
Lachlan
Guest
"Matthew Wade is good at wicketkeeping" To the mere mortal he is, but in terms of top level cricket he wouldn't make the top 4 keepers in Australia based on glovework alone imo.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Couldn't agree more, Rellum, not sure what game Bobbo is watching??
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Not playing T20 won't matter for his fitness. There are enough one dayers and tests for him to keep match fit. They need to be giving someone else a run sooner rather than later at international level, unless they just intend to go back to Wade as he has international experience. If Whiteman does ok in the Champion's League, it would be him for the T20 gig. CA are very keen on him.
shiv
Guest
agreed mate ,but where is lyon and sok in odi ??? don't think so and in odi whiteman will be a good wk and one player to watch out for and i wan't to see him in world cup 2015 ...CHRIS LYNN a man with power and technique .
Rellum
Roar Guru
You memories must not stretch back past the Micky Arthur era when Hads form really dropped off. Before that he was, and still is, a great international standard keeper.
Bob Sims
Guest
As far as Tests are concerned, Doolan is yet to prove himself, Mitch Marsh is the heir apparent to Watto and SOK could force his way into the Test side if he does well in his call-up. For me, the side in late 2015 will be close to Warner, Hughes, Smith, Clarke, M. Marsh, Maxwell, Paine, Johnson, SOK, Pattinson and Lyon.
Bob Sims
Guest
Get a grip! What game have you been watching? Haddin is a legend, has the form both as WK and batsman, and has the respect of team mates for his contribution and leadership skills. Paine the next successor and Whiteman down the track, but no need to change a good thing at present.
Vish
Guest
Haddin dint drop catches in the Ashes. He put down a couple of dollies in India. And England dropped Haddin in every innings of significance. As Aussie fans we want the team stronger but Haddin is a real liability. He jus waves his bat around in tests. Even in ODI he doesnt hv good rotation of strike. He is so poor against spinners. jus slogs his way out of trouble. previously he used to step out well. now he is jus too old. he can be used for tests as he is a enforcer on the field. But T 20 is too fast for him and ODI s hv become more competitive. Dunk would be good as he would be more aggressive opening the innings with Warner. Plz dont let Hughes play ODI. we need him as next opener after Rogers. Test team after 2015 Warner Hughes Doolan Clarke Smith Watson or Henriques Haddin Johnson Pattinson Cummins / Hilfenhaus Lyon ODI s Warner Dunk Finch or Lynn Smith Bailey Maxwell Marsh or Watto til he pulls on Faulkner Starc Mckay or Pattinson O keefe Kindly give ur opinion on this teams guys. we want Aussie s back to the top . Unbeatable
Nudge
Guest
You wrong Bobbo he didn't drop a catch in the ashes
Bobbo7
Guest
Short memories I reckon. Wade may not be the answer, but surely they have to give someone under 30 a go.
Rellum
Roar Guru
You are going to struggle to find many in the Aus cricket community who would agree with you.
Bobbo7
Guest
He did drop simple catches. To be fair he also played pretty well but Wade seems to have crucified because Healy decided so and he kept badly in India on rank turners, where every top order batsman was also bamboozled.
Nudge
Guest
Don't think Haddin dropped a catch in the ashes Vish took a couple of one handed screamers and some beauty's off Lyon. And I can't remember him getting dropped once during the ashes,all I can remember is him being our saviour, and scoring around 400-450 runs at an average around 70. Great keeper quality bat
Francis Curro
Roar Pro
Give future test keeper a go. Taste of international cricket.
Christian D'Aloia
Roar Guru
Regardless of whether England held onto a few more catches, Haddin was nothing short of heroic throughout the last Ashes series. I can't remember one occasion when he dropped a simple catch, and he very very rarely throws his wicket away, particularly in tight situations.
Bobbo7
Guest
Haddin is massively overrated. Goes to water when the pressure is on and is no better a keeper than Wade. Had a hopeless England held some easy catches last summer Haddin may well have had a shocking series. Wade certainly needs wrok but I fail to see how Healy bagging him the media and then Wade becoming captain of Victoria has helped. Get Wade some thorough keeping training, put the word on him to produce with the bat and give him a decent go. That tour of India was a disaster for everyone with the batsman doing nothign on turning pitches - Wade did struggle but so did the whole team. Everyone seems to forget the number of times Haddin has dropped simple catches and thrown his wicket away in tight situations
shiv
Guest
aus. really need a aggresive wk for 2016 t20 wc ,as wc will be hosted by india so it will be very nice tournament for aus because of ipl experience but they need a wk because don't think Haddin is going to play that wc
Vish
Guest
Haddin is a average keeper and a very poor bat. His Ashes heroics were all done when he was repreived atleast once or twice. Remember Carberry puttin down a sitter at point when he made his 100. Even against Zimbabwe he was just sloggin his way out of trouble.He was put down a sitter at short fine leg. Even in India he took one r two screamers but put down too many regulation catches. Australia need a solid keeper who can scratch some runs down the order. Whiteman for ODI . Dunk for t 20 . and Paine or Hartley or Neville or Ryan Carters for Tests.
Shouts Chen
Guest
I have the desire of Matthew Wade to be in the UAE squad. Matthew Wade is good at wicketkeeping and should be able to focus clearly on the ball. Wade has played T20 since the Jan 2014 against England. However Matthew Wade didn't get selected for the T20 World Cup. I feel that Matthew Wade should be in the spot for this year's summer of cricket and the Cricket World Cup.
SCC
Guest
How are finch and warner going with their wk training? Perfect options IMO