Brad Haddin, the former ODI cricketer...

A wicketkeeper had to prevent the byes and keep on cheering the teammates. Sometimes they used to suggest some field changes to the captain or the bowlers. When it comes to batting, it was not their piece of cake. Whatever runs they scored, it was like blessing in disguise. This was what a wicketkeeper was supposed to do till the end of 20th century, when a man called Adam Gilchrist came into limelight.
But when we saw Gilly stepping down as an International player, we got an opportunity to watch something which Gilly’s predecessor Ian Healy did for so many years. That was the beginning of an era of a 31 year old rather matured Brad Haddin.
The world had seen little of him whenever Gilchrist was rested during his time. Then, the people used to compare Haddin’s batting ability to that of Gilly’s. But actually we were wrong. When he had to fill up the huge boots of someone like Gilly, he succeeded in doing it. Though, it was not a dream run.
During this period, Haddin had seen several ups and downs, competing with Matthew Wade, Tim Paine, Graham Manou, Ryan Campbell and Luke Ronchi who were capable of doing the job behind the stumps. When his 17 month old daughter Mia was fighting with cancer, he had to sacrifice his place for her. But whenever he was out of the team, ‘BJ’ did exceedingly well for his side New South Wales and bringing him back into the Aussie team.
There was a time during 2013 when Matthew Wade was the first choice gloveman in his country. But when Haddin was included in the side considering an outstanding domestic season, he never looked back.
It was the prestigious tour of ‘The Ashes’ 2013/14, which later turned onto the brightest time of his cricketing career, where he was the best batsman of the tour scoring 493 runs at an average of 61.62, helping the team clinch ‘The Ashes’ with a clean sweep. This lead Haddin become, the deputy for Michael Clarke, which gave him enough confidence to place himself settled at all three formats of the game.
He set very high standards in his feet movements as well as in the diving capabilities behind the stumps. Once he got an opportunity to leas the side in an T20 International to add it on his resume’. He later evolved as a batsman considering his ability to adapt his game of shifting gear according to the match situations. He could play the role of a sheet anchor, a pinch hitter and a brilliant finisher as well.
Beginning his career in the year 2001, Haddin had announced his arrival with an excellent effort to run Guy Whittall out, the 37 year and 158 days old ‘BJ’ announced his retirement to ODIs after his team being crowned as the world champions on the grand stage of MCG.
Brad Haddin had played 126 one day matches scoring 3122 runs at 31.53 with 16 fifties and 2 centuries. He also has 181 dismissals under his tally, which includes 170 catches and 11 stumpings. He will continue to play in the longer format and also has the dream to set up coaching center to nurture the younger generations, after he calls it a day.