With Brad Haddin in the twilight of his cricketing career, the National Selection Panel will soon be required to select his replacement. Fortunately for Rod Marsh and his fellow selectors, the dominant batting form displayed recently by state keepers presents them with plenty of options.
The return of Sheffied Shield cricket brought with it the familiar inconsistent batting performances expected from Victoria. While the Bushrangers’ batting order looks strong on paper, a collapse of 5/77 left diminutive skipper Matthew Wade with plenty of work to do.
Fortunately, he was up to the task, smashing a career best 152 to guide the Vics to 260. While a dominant double century from Chris Lynn ultimately led to a crushing innings loss for the Bushies, Wade also posted a half century in the second innings. These fighting displays reiterate why the nuggety little man is held in such high regard by state and national selectors.
After dismissing Victoria for a below par score, Queensland were looking to press home their advantage by posting a big total in reply. The chances of this were not looking strong, however, when early strikes from James Pattinson and Peter Siddle saw them slump to 4/33.
Fortunately for the Bulls, Lynn’s heroics were accompanied by a determined 123 by stalwart Chris Hartley. Their partnership of 273 put the game out of reach for the Vics, before Hartley was finally dismissed.
While older than the other candidates often mentioned on these pages, Hartley’s exemplary glovework and underrated batting could see him behind the stumps in the Brisbane Test this November.
Last, but certainly not least, we head to Tasmania, where New South Wales also found themselves in a spot of bother. Slumping to 5/66 in response to Tassie’s first innings total of 272, the Blues were merely looking to avoid a first innings deficit when Peter Nevill strode to the crease.
From this perilous position, an innings victory was certainly not a consideration for either side. However, Nevill may have been carrying a Wade-sized chip on his shoulder, spending the recent Big Bash League season on the sidelines after Wade’s defection to the Renegades.
The resulting onslaught saw NSW declare at 9/576, with Nevill unbeaten on 235. Seeing off lethal early spells from Jackson Bird and Ben Hilfenhaus, Nevill then set about forcing his name in front of the National Selection Panel.
Flights to the West Indies and the UK may now be tentatively booked in Nevill’s iPhone calendar for later this year, as he continues to battle Wade and Sam Whiteman to succeed Haddin in the national side.
Regardless of who the selectors choose as Haddin’s replacement when he finally decides to retire, the return of Shield cricket has brought with it further evidence of our state keepers’ fighting qualities.
All the glovemen mentioned above are worthy successors to Haddin. Rod Marsh and his fellow selectors ultimately find themselves in the enviable position of being utterly spoilt for choice upon Haddin’s departure.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Hartley has been in great for for two seasons in FC cricket as well. To me he is clearly the best keeper in the country and his batting is good enough to earn selection.
QuitWhinging
Guest
Wade was shocking yes, but I'm pointing to the ridiculous theories as to why is he isn't a contender to replace Haddin. For all of Wade's mistakes, I haven't been particularly impressed with Haddin. How many catches did he miss this summer? My reasoning for Wade getting first shot at replacing Haddin is because I've watched what the selectors have done and that's select him first choice when Haddin's been out. I've eve seen ludicrous theories that he was picked so Nevill and Whiteman could play Sheffield Shield cricket.
jameswm
Guest
Who cares about one day cricket? We're picking a test keeper. I think Nevill's age and better batting will see him get the gig.
jameswm
Guest
Brett - Carters is of course the other option who isn't currently keeping for his state.
jameswm
Guest
Make things up - like how many chances Wade missed when he last kept in tests? Are you burying your head in the sand?
Tristan
Guest
Agree wholeheartedly. Haddin has never been a top notch keeper. Not rubbish (besides the odd patch here and there, but many keepers have a trough in form) but he has never been the outstanding gloveman in the country. His footwork has generally left a little to be desired, leading to the spectactular dives, which should be able to be taken a little more easily. Wade is also a serial offender here.
Don Freo
Guest
Zoehrer was a wonderful batsman. But you are right, he was also a top keeper. He was, however, slightly wayward in his management of his personal habits. That's why they fast tracked Healy.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I reckon if Whiteman had been even just solid this summer they'd have been tempted to invest in him because of that desire to move towards youth. But he had a poor Ryobi Cup with the bat and then similarly bad batting form in the Shield so he has a lot of ground to make up over the rest of the Shield season to challenge Nevill and Wade, both of whom are dominating with the bat. I reckon the likes of Handscomb and Carters are best pursuing their batting at this stage as both have made giant strides since moving away from being full-time keepers.
Rellum
Roar Guru
No way was Heals picked with his batting in mind. He play 5 FC games or something like that before his first Test and did not set the world on fire from memeory. Same with Zoerher who was amazing behind the stumps, especially to the paceman. Marsh was considered the best gloveman in the world at the time and one of our best ever, his batting was a handy little bonus( nothing great by Gilly standards) but he was picked because of his keeping skills. Phillips was more of a Batsmen for sure, Dyer is a little before my time. Gilly of course changed the dynamic when it comes to wicket keeper/batting and Hads has carried that on to a lesser degree. The unfortunate thing is selectors seem to look at batting first now too, that is the only way you can justify the thinking behind Wade's selection.
Rellum
Roar Guru
His performance in the last few seasons is just behind Neville with the bat in FC and probably superior in one day cricket.
Brett McKay
Expert
Being the best 'keeper in the country alone hasn't got anyone the gig in the last 40 years, Rellum. Haddin, Gilchrist, Healy, Dyer/Zoerher/Rixon/Phillips, Marsh were all picked because their batting made them more valuable than better glovemen at the time..
Brett McKay
Expert
Ronan, if Haddin was turning 36 rather than 38, it would probably help the cause of the younger brigade more, but the timeframe means you're probably right. And since Wade is the youngest of the older crew, you're probably right on that front too. (And Handscomb did 'keep in the first couple of Shield games this summer, by the way) I've got nothing against Nevill, and he probably is or should be the next in line, but he will be 30 before the next Australian summer. And I just wonder if they would rather back a young guy now and get 10+ years out of him, or go through the same thing in five or six years time..
Nudge
Guest
Not sure how his batting is only slightly behind. He averages 31 compared to Neville's 44. That's a massive difference. Unfortunately for Hartley supporters he has next to no chance of playing for Australia
Rellum
Roar Guru
Hartley is the best keeper in the country and that alone gets him the gig. His batting is either on par or just slightly behind the other candidates but his keeping is far enough ahead in my opinion that he makes up for that. But Ronan is right in that Wade will get the gig.
Don Freo
Guest
Ronchi was so out of form 5years ago, WA dropped him and replaced him with Michael Johnson.
Don Freo
Guest
His keeping hasn't gone missing. It is outstanding.
13th Man
Guest
Yeah gotta be Nevill They guy is just churning out runs. he is good enough to bat at 6 which can allow Faulkner to come in at 7. I think Hadds has gotta go after WC and then Nevill can take over. Watson also must go and Burns or Lynn can come in as well. My Ashes XI Warner Rogers (farewell tour for buck) Burns Smith Clarke/ S Marsh Nevill M Marsh/ Faulkner Johnson Harris Pattinson/ Starc/ Hazelwood/ Behrendorff (take your pick) Lyon would also include Chris Lynn in squad.
QuitWhinging
Guest
"Haddin was 30yo when he replaced Gilchrist and he's gone on to have a great test career" Over 50 tests and batting average of jut 33 with the occasional lead footedness doesn't scream "great test career". Secondly don't even try to use logic to justify Wade as a contender. Most people just seem to make up things as they go along and will find something to dispute that claim.
Don Freo
Guest
Handscomb has had those yips for his 4 or 5 year career. He and Carters are not contenders.
Don Freo
Guest
You could make a comment about that Christo. You have my permission.