Brad Haddin may not go down as one of the greatest individuals to wear the Baggy Green, but he will be certainly be remembered as one of Australia’s most influential team-mates, both on and off the field.
So when the 38-year-old called time on his international career last September, it was no surprise his absence in the dressing room was keenly felt with captain Steve Smith saying: “He’s been a terrific player over a long period of time, certainly one of the best team men I’ve ever been around. He’s been a great mentor for me. I’ve learned so much off him.”
While Smith will be looking to put the knowledge of what he learnt from Haddin into practice during their on-going tour against Sri Lanka in the subcontinent, his former team-mate has the comfort of enjoying his retirement after a memorable career.
Since making his debut in the ODI against Zimbabwe in 2001, there’s been no looking back for the wicketkeeper batsman.
He is a man who boasts an impressive CV – two World Cup titles, six centuries and an Ashes winning medal, scoring more than 6,000 runs and 449 catches in all formats.
“I had a blessed career and I wouldn’t change a thing,” Haddin told Sport360 while in Abu Dhabi for Fun Nation last month.
“You had your good days and you then had your best days. I was lucky enough to play for a long time for Australia and made some wonderful friends in the game.”
Known for his tough and uncompromising style, the potential of the New South Wales player was clear to see from the start, even though he had to wait another three years until 2004 to add to his six international caps which he won in Zimbabwe. He donned the Australia jersey another 19 times between 2004 and 2008 and it could have been more if it was not for Adam Gilchrist’s firm establishment as the starting wicketkeeper.
But it was only a matter of time before the gloves were passed down to him and after impressing on the domestic circuit, Haddin’s time arrived. In 2008, Gilchrist had finally called it quits and the Australian coaches had the perfect predecessor tailor-made in Haddin. And despite waiting in the shadows for his opportunity, Haddin never doubted he’d eventually make the step up.
“I took that out of the equation [being frustrated with lack of opportunities with Gilchrist playing],” he said.
“I think I was very lucky to be behind Adam Gilchrist. I think he changed the way wicketkeepers were perceived. We had to be become general all-rounders and contribute with the bat and keep our standards with the gloves. I was never one who was worried about who was in front of me but I wanted to make sure that when Gilchrist did retire, that I would be in a position to be the next choice.”
A long-awaited Test debut arrived with West Indies providing the opposition in Kingston in May 2008. He made up for lost time and quickly stepped up. Six months later, a first individual milestone was reached with a maiden Test ton against New Zealand and that was just the start.
He went on to play 65 more Tests and 34 T20Is and signed off his ODI career last year on a high with his second World Cup on home soil on his 126th ODI appearance as he established himself as first-choice wicketkeeper.
Haddin got his first taste of the Ashes in the 2009 series but his Ashes debut ended disappointingly as hosts England reclaimed the urn, who went on to reign supreme in the 2010-11 and 2013 duels, despite hitting two more centuries. But Haddin, who was appointed vice-captain, finally got his hands on the prized asset in the 2013-14 series and played his part in the 5-0 whitewash as Test cricket’s biggest prize returned to Australia.
Haddin bailed his team out of tricky situations, particularly in the second Test in Adelaide. His patience at the crease paid off with his fourth and last Test century as well as contributing with five fifties, finishing as Australia’s second highest run-scorer with 493.
“I think the whole campaign was special,” he said. “To be involved in an Ashes winning campaign and to know that we had a quality team who could really make a difference in that series. I really enjoyed the Ashes and the theatre behind the campaign was totally different to anything that I was involved in before. The scrutiny you’re under, the rivalry between Australia and England was enormous and that is definitely my highlight.”
Of that rivalry, one Englishman embodies it best and when he was sent back to the pavilion it would spark a huge celebration from the Aussie contingent.
“I think the one person you’d like to go after is the opposition captain. Alastair Cook’s an outstanding leader,” he said.
“England’s momentum comes from how well he can bat. He’s a world class batsman but we made sure things were uncomfortable for Cook and made sure he was the prized wicket.”
He admits he’s been lucky to share a dressing room with high-profile cricketers including former captains Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke. And although both stamped their authority, Ponting was the one skipper who stood out.
“I think Ricky Ponting was a great leader of men,” he said. “I thought the way he built relationships with not just the senior players but with the young guys to feel they are part of the group was great. He asked a lot of his players but he was always leading from the front in whatever training session he did.”
With his playing days behind him, Haddin is spending as much time with his three young children and wife in Sydney. But he remains on a mission to share his passion to kids around the world, just like he did during his masterclass sessions at Fun Nation.
“The great thing about these events is that you can see the kids smiles on their faces,” he said. “Some of these kids will go on to become great cricketers or whatever they choose. If we can leave a smile on their face and get them enjoying the game of cricket that’s great.”
