Brad Haddin has come under fire once again, this time from New Zealand after one news agency labelled him “the worst-spirited cricketer ever”.
It seems the scars he left in giving both Martin Guptill and Grant Elliott send-offs in the recent World Cup final have not yet healed. It should come as no surprise he is not only unpopular in New Zealand but from cricket fans over the world especially those rooting for the underdog in the final.
But if Haddin has been labelled as the worst – and considering Australia’s sledging record – do wicketkeepers find themselves in hot water more than the average cricketers? With a lot to say behind the stumps during play, they must feel the brunt of criticism from other sides.
While Adam Gilchrist will always be seen as one of the nice guys in an era of Australian cricket dominated by egocentric players, he landed himself in strife on more than one occasion throughout his illustrious career. Often portraying a clean image, especially after his commitment to walking – or his “walking crusade” as a former New Zealand captain put it – he was reprimanded on a few occasions by match referees as well as the ACB.
Who can forget Ian Healy’s sledge to Arjuna Ranatunga during an ODI at the SCG in 1996 that could be heard by the entire TV audience via the stump microphone. When the Sri Lankan captain asked for a runner after claiming he had “sprained something”, Healy replied “you don’t get a runner for being an overweight, unfit, fat c#*t.”
The art of sledging, or ‘mental disintegration’ as Steve Waugh labelled it, has happened on the field for many years with traces back to the 1960s. It is no coincidence though, that from the invention of stump microphones in the early 1980s the cricketing audience has been exposed a lot more to the art of sledging.
The art of a great sledge is not just limited to ‘keepers, and there have been many cricketers over the years caught up in a verbal stoush or two. The skirmishes between Steve Waugh and Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath and Ramnaresh Sarwan – and more recently Michael Clarke and Jimmy Anderson – have all found their way into sledging folklore.
With the proximity wicketkeepers have to the opposing players, it will always be a role that is dealt and often welcomed by them. The upcoming Ashes series promises to be no different with Haddin and Jos Buttler both unafraid in voicing their opinions on the field.
The battle of the ‘keepers is just one mini contest that will have an impact on how the 2015 Ashes plays out, and if the previous series is anything to go by it will be an absorbing duel.
Robbo
Guest
He'll be gone soon Nick, not before Avge 40+ with the bat, and winning the Ashes 5-0 against the pommie losers! How's that for a sledge? :)
Hayley
Guest
Look every country likes to vilify some other countries players. Haddin is an easy target because of his big mouth that spews out some err interesting things. Australian rugby supporters love to vilify Richie McCaw, but thats because he's the captain of the worlds best team. Richie actually doesnt throw shade around (Hanson on the other hand is pretty good at throwing some undercut comments into press conferences, its perfect). Teasing is also a sign of affection in New Zealand (we aren't really all that different) but this isn't teasing. I watched a video a couple of weeks ago when Gale and Haddin were having a go at it and Gale ended up getting him out. When he got of the field he continued to have a go at Gale, that aint a good look for Haddin. It makes him seem a bit like he can hand it out but he really cant take it all that well. Personally I would rather not be friends with someone who constantly shoved their victories in my face in a non funny way. Its like when someone always tells you they met a famous person, repeatedly. It gets old, real fast.
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
Awww, look, he had a bit of a dig at New Zealand, so I suppose Kiwis reserve the right to get offended if they really want to, but I mean, he's an Aussie. Sometimes we just can't help ourselves. If it helps, teasing is often a sign of affection in Australia. It's when we're offering sugary compliments that you should be worried. Apart from that, though, I don't think anyone in Australia would disagree with his view on us getting an English coach and the rest of it comes down to the international sledging debate, in which Brad Haddin is hardly the only player, so I think it's a different argument. Hadds is a cheeky bugger, sure. He likes to stir things up, so he's always going to rub some people up the wrong way, and he's unapologetic when he explains his views, but he's not mean-spirited. He has a joke, he doesn't take himself too seriously, and he seems a friendly, genuine, nice bloke.
JoM
Guest
Get over yourself. You are entitled to your opinion but to say he is a blight on the game is one of the more ridiculous things I have seen. Hads is one of my favourite people and I am also entitled to my opinion.
Nick
Guest
He's the worst of the most recent generation that's for sure. Churlish, juvenile and throughly unlikeable pretty much sums him up. Sooner he's gone from the game the better, characters like him are a blight on the game
Hayley
Guest
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-3145087/Brad-Haddin-shrugs-peace-talk-ahead-Ashes-warns-England-Australia-totally-different-beast-New-Zealand.html Quite a few people were tweeting their distaste for the man, thats how I found this article and theirs also one by the telegraph, the NZ herald etc. etc. http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2015/content/story/892803.html But then this article shows he says the same thing in a different way. Who knows with the media these days.
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
I don't remember that one - which interview was that from? Do you have a link?
mattyb
Guest
Warner is probably worse than Haddin.McGrath could be a tad average if things didn't go his way.Dennis Lillee,great player but very childish at times,Merv Hughes.Australia has a long history of guys pushing the line.Sometimes you do cringe but each to their own.The way the Indians whinge and carry on is more not my cup of tea but they have long history for this to.
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
:) Doesn't surprise me at all - he always comes across to me that way, even if I've only seen him on TV. What I find sad is how many Aussies don't get our sense of humour ... political correctness is a good and proper thing, but there's such a thing as too much of it. For an traditionally relaxed country Australia is becoming uptighter by the minute. You can't take the piss out of anything anymore.
James
Guest
not batting for the team and doing pretty much most stuff up thing you can do as a keeper then not saying oops are bad reasons? ok.
JoM
Guest
I think there are many that don't get our sense of humour, You can see he is having a joke. He lives very close to me and I see him and his family all the time. He is happy to have a chat in the local supermarket or anywhere else for that matter to anyone who wants to have a chat. Loves to talk. He is a great guy and considering we aren't privy to what is said on the field we don't really have the first clue.
Hayley
Guest
Are you meaning the NZH article because I dont see bitter. The majority of it is his quotes.
Hayley
Guest
I dont think "We are not New Zealand. We won the world cup." is a bit of fun. Its not funny, its just plain negative and said in bad spirit.
Chancho
Roar Rookie
I've just read the interview... it actually comes across as a bit bitter and perhaps slightly childish from them (the NZ press) actually Worst spirited; not sure, but I gather his comments seem to always come out into the public? I guess good sledging stays on the field? I must say I find Haddin's brand of sledging as somewhat low-brow and unintelligent... when I hear some of the stuff he comes out with I do wish he'd be best served shutting up
Zim Zam
Roar Rookie
Can people actually not tell that 90% of what Hadds says in interviews is called humour? I understand not everyone in the world gets Aussie deadpan humour, but you'd think at least a few more Australians would.
Brian
Guest
Yes
Don Freo
Guest
They seem like really pathetic reasons.
James
Guest
i really do not like haddin, partly because he has no concept of not swinging the bat regardless of when he comes in but also for the dismissal against new zealand where he caught the ball in front of the stumps. that was bad enough but then he admitted that he caught it before it hit the stumps but that the ball also hit the stumps before it went into his gloves. wtf?
Don Freo
Guest
If you don't see, have a look at the smile on his face. If it is received by a sad face, that recipient needs to work on his life skills. They are only words and often in response to some less skilled initiation...(like Anderson's, Broad's, Harbajan's, Kohli's, JimmyB's, Another PinO's or col's).
Hayley
Guest
I dont see how the recent comments he has made are 'a bit of fun'.