Centre-of-attention Ryan Harris believes Queensland stalwart Chris Hartley’s experience and ultra-consistency should solve Australia’s wicketkeeping conundrum.
Most eyes will be on fit-again Harris when he makes his first-class return at the Gabba on Sunday, but the most influential ones will also have their sights squarely on Hartley and NSW rival Peter Nevill.
Brad Haddin’s shoulder injury has the Test vice-captain in serious doubt for the start of the summer and given hope to a handful of glovemen around the country.
While Matthew Wade is deputising for Haddin in the Australian one-day side, Blues skipper Nevill and Bulls stalwart Hartley are also seen as leading contenders as they go head to head in Sheffield Shield combat.
National selector Trevor Hohns will take special interest in both as a potential stop-gap, on top of ensuring Harris makes good strides to proving form and fitness for the start of the four-Test series against India from December 4 in Brisbane.
While he hoped Haddin recovered for the first Test, Harris felt Hartley – who has ploughed away in Shield cricket for 12 seasons and 102 matches – was a natural choice as replacement.
“If we talk about performances that warrant selection, Harts has got to be up there,” Harris told AAP.
“He hasn’t just done it for one year and then had two years off – he’s been a consistent performer.”
Hartley, regarded as the best pure gloveman in the country and endorsed by Test great Ian Healy, has missed out in the past to the likes of Haddin, Wade and Tim Paine on the strength of their batting.
Haddin (42) and Wade (40.94) both average above 40 with the bat but Hartley’s record of 32.24, with half his matches played on the seam-friendly Gabba, also stacks up well.
“He could walk into any situation,” Harris, 35, said. “He’s done it any number of times for Queensland when we’ve been in trouble and played his game and batted us out of trouble.
“You want experienced guys going into the Test side and he fits that mould easily.”
As well as Harris, who underwent knee surgery in March after bowling Australia to victory in South Africa, Queensland have been boosted by the returns of Ben Cutting, Nathan Reardon and Cameron Boyce.
The Blues are missing Mitchell Starc (groin) and Josh Hazlewood (ODI duty) but still take in a quality bowling attack spearheaded by Doug Bollinger.
Dan Ced
Guest
Hartley, Ludeman, or Whiteman.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
It was inconclusive, doesn't that mean you can't overturn the decision. I actually do like this new thing where you get to hear the umpires though, would like them to do it in AFL so we can hear the logic behind some of those terrible goal reviews they have had.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Agree with Don the catches were all straight to him, you'd expect all keepers to take them. We didn't see him keep to the spinners, that is where he is hopeless
Don Freo
Guest
Just don't want everyone saying he took 5 catches and equating it to a bowler's 5 wickets...and he is the Test keeper for life.
Don Freo
Guest
Mind you...how bad was that DRS? Should have been umpire's decision. No hot spot and only snicko sound was shirt.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Yes Rhino Go talk to the selectors for us mate. Hartley is definitely the best gloveman and is just as good a bat as the others mentioned. Watching Wade scratch around for 17 today made me cringe. If Hartley was playing he would have dug in and stuck with Mitch Marsh and we would've made 50-100 more runs and possibly won the match.
twodogs
Guest
Everyone falls every now and then. Did he drop one?
jamesb
Guest
No to Wade. Its out of Hartley or Nevill. And then a few years time bring in Whiteman. Haddin should retire. I favour Hartley. I have even written an article pushing for Hartley in the test team
JoM
Guest
Haddin
Don Freo
Guest
Himself or Wade, Jo?
Don Freo
Guest
Wade was very clumsy on Friday. He fell over taking catches others would take on their feet and he fumbled almost every return that landed near his feet. He is not a natural gloveman. Batted well.
JoM
Guest
Did hear on the sports show this morning while driving to work that the presenter had texted Haddin yesterday and he said no problem with regards to him playing the first test.
twodogs
Guest
Wade was pretty tidy on friday. He's a shoe-in. I believe Haddin may get the tap-on-shoulder anyway, even if after the Indian tests. Other hopefuls will just have to bide their time. Waiting...... scoring lots of runs. See? they love a keeper who can also hold a bat. Hey I'm not a Wade fan but if he gets a go second time around he may just hang on to it. Well, he has improved.
Jo M
Guest
I've just got a feeling they will give it to Wade seeing as they picked him for this ODI series instead of giving the others a go. The bowlers, particularly Lyon, will be running scared if that happens.
Jo M
Guest
Meant has opened. Does he usually bat at 6 or 7?
Jo M
Guest
Is Hartley going to be happy batting at 6 or 7 considering he opens for Qld. He won't be anywhere near the top order in a test team.
Silver Sovereign
Roar Rookie
I don't mean people here Don. I mean the cricket establishment like the reporters, selectors, channel 9 blokes. They haven't mentioned Chris once. Only heals did fleatingly. They are still under the impression that Haddin is great because of the way he plays(you know, reckless batting no matter situation). Fair point on Nevill. I would consider him for the ODI side and have Hartley in the test team for a couple of years. Then with Nevill at 31 and Whiteman around 25/26, a decision can be made then. I think Gilchrist was 29 or 30 when given the top job
Don Freo
Guest
You're not reading much SS. I'd say Hartley is the MOST picked by Roarers in every speculative team. Hartley and Nevill are 1 and 2 for Roar contributors and not one reader selects Wade. What are you reading? But...you don't need to wait for Nevill to mature. He has been in the system for almost ten years, is 29 yo and is captaining NSW. How mature do you want him to get?
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
Hartley shud replace haddin even if hes overcome that shoulder injury.nevill shud be no.2
Silver Sovereign
Roar Rookie
Good on ya Rhino. About time Hartley got mentioned. With all the biased commentators mentioning the likes of Wade, Nevill and Whiteman, the one man who has been hardly brought up is the most consistent of the lot. Mature guy only 30 or 31, best actual keeper of the lot, makes tough runs very often and doesn't throw away his wicket like Haddin. He is perfect for the next 3 years or so as the likes of Whiteman and Nevill mature. Wade need not be mentioned