London: Brad Haddin cut a largely anonymous figure in England four years ago but he is now set to be centre stage when the Ashes get underway next month.
In 2005, Haddin was the understudy to Australia great Adam Gilchrist, perhaps the best wicket-keeper/batsman cricket has ever known.
But he bided his time and Haddin, who made his Test debut just over a year ago, is all set to be behind the stumps come the Ashes series which gets underway in Cardiff on July 8.
While Australia has endured some measure of uncertainty when it comes to spin bowling since the retirement of Shane Warne, it is to Haddin's credit that there has been no similar doubt about who is the best man to don the gloves now that Gilchrist is no longer on the scene.
Gilchrist was arguably good enough to have played Test cricket solely as a batsman but Haddin, 31, a stylish if less aggressive shot-maker, is keen that his performances be assessed in their own right.
"There's talk about comparisons and things like that, but I think it's very unfair," said Haddin.
"Adam could be said to be one of the best players to have ever played the game so I think the comparisons are a little bit disrespectful to him because he's one of the greats of the game and I've only just started, only 12 months into my international career.
"Adam could easily take the game away from you with the bat inside a session, but I don't think you'll see any of that flamboyance from me."
It took Haddin 16 Test innings to make a maiden Test half-century but then the New South Wales stumper turned that into a fine 169 against New Zealand in Adelaide.
Since then he has averaged over 48 in six Tests, home and away, against South Africa.
| Ads by Google |
Be the first to comment.