The 2013 Ashes dream is still alive for Brad Haddin, but he can’t see it occurring as a specialist batsman.
Just when it appeared Haddin’s Test career was over, national selectors have placed him squarely back in the picture for this year’s tours of India and England.
The 35-year-old was on Sunday selected ahead of Tim Paine to deputise for resting wicketkeeper Matthew Wade in the first two matches of the one-day series against Sri Lanka.
In an evolving team sapped of 247 Tests of experience with the retirements of Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey, Haddin’s age and hard-nosed reputation are working for him this time.
The recall comes just two months after the selectors preferred Wade, 25, for the Test keeping position.
“It’s a nice surprise,” Haddin said on Sunday.
“I’m comfortable with where I’m at with my cricket and I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”
With injuries and retirements striking Australia’s middle order, coach Mickey Arthur and chief selector John Inverarity have also both mentioned Haddin as a No.6 batting candidate.
But it’s purely as a gloveman where he sees an opportunity to add to his record of 43 Tests, 164 dismissals and 2257 runs at 35.82.
“It’s obviously flattering if people talk that way but my No.1 job is to be a wicketkeeper,” the 2005 and 2009 Ashes tourist said.
“My game is in a good place, I’m happy where everything’s at, and if that ever came across I’d be happy to do it but my job is to keep wickets.”
Haddin has also stayed ahead of Paine, who impressed in four Tests in 2010 before injury struck, due to 337 runs at 67.4 in four Sheffield Shield matches this season while the 28-year-old Tasmanian has largely struggled on dodgy Hobart pitches.
Australia selectors traditionally send two glovemen on Ashes tours and, while it’s less likely to occur in the four-Test tour of India, Inverarity stressed Haddin remained the back-up to Wade.
“We may or may not take two keepers to India and/or England,” he said.
“At this stage, our firm intention is if we take two it’ll be Matthew Wade and Brad Haddin.”