The Ashes 2013 - The Characters: Brad Haddin

Brad Haddin of Australia

“It’s a great honour to be vice-captain, not only of Australia, but in an Ashes campaign. There is no more exciting cricket that you play. You can play all the fancy tournaments around the world but this is it, the whole feeling around an Ashes campaign and everything that comes with it, this is why you want to play.” – Brad Haddin on being a leader in the Australian side that will contest Ashes 2013.

It’s been an astonishing journey for Brad Haddin in international cricket. The 35-year-old would have perhaps been a great of the game by now had he not suffered the misfortune of being the compatriot and contemporary of Adam Gilchrist. He worked all those years in Australian domestic cricket only to be the second best wicket-keeper-batsman in Australia till the day Adam Gilchrist decided to call it a day. Haddin was deservedly drafted into the team the team that played against the West Indies in 2008 as his replacement and he looked the part despite the fact that he played most part of the match with a broken finger.

Circumstances forced Haddin to withdraw from the series against West Indies in April 2012 as his young daughter was not well. Matthew Wade took the chance he got with both his hands and his batting performances ensured that Haddin remained on the margin for almost an year yet again.

Haddin, however, never lost hope. “I never thought it was finished for me. The only worry was whether circumstances would allow me to get back. But I never doubted I could return and keep challenging myself to be a better cricketer, and if I had I would have walked away from the game.”

Brad Haddin was recalled to the Australian side when they were in dire need of experience on the tour to India. His selection ahead of this Ashes series seems to have many positives as he can wear many hats in the game. His glove-work, batting and leadership will all be called upon in this most challenging series.

Matthew Wade’s batting exploits have become a lot more inconsistent and it is difficult to see him succeed on current form in the hostile conditions of England. Haddin, on the other hand, has the experience of playing two Ashes competitions and has done fairly well. He has a batting average of 45 in the nine matches that he has played in the Ashes.