Australia wicketkeeper Brad Hadddin announced his retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday. He is the fifth player, after Michael Clarke, Ryan Harris, Chris Rogers and Shane Watson, to call time on his international career in recent time.
The numbers throughout his career might not be tge greatest at first look, but one can be rest assured he has been a part of the Aussie brigade in several memorable victories across the world.
Haddin played 66 Test matches sporting the baggy green cap, scoring 3,266 runs at an average of 32.98 and taking 262 catches with eight stumpings. He scored four hundreds and 18 half-centuries.
Haddin remained a crucial figure in the Australia team for quite a long period, post the Adam Gilchrist era.
Haddin was a crucial player when Australia thrashed England 5-0 in the 2013 Ashes series. He also orchestrated the departure of several batsmen during the ICC World Cup 2015 Down Under, where Australia lifted a fifth World Cup title.
"I'd just like today to announce my retirement from Test cricket and first class cricket with New South Wales. I've enjoyed the 17 years and am comfortable with my decision. Once you've lost that will to get up and do the things you need to do to play for Australia, it's time to walk away. I've had a great run and I couldn't be happier with the way I'm leaving the game," Haddin told reporters.
"I came to the realisation, probably after Lord's, that I'd lost that fight to continue. I was all about trying to make myself the best cricketer I could be every time I walked out on the training paddock and I probably lost that hunger from there.
Haddin had to wait until Gilchrist's retirement from international cricket. By then, he was already past 30. But one would believe that he was a worthy successor to the legendary Gilchrist. The New South Wales wicketkeeper played his first Test against West Indies in 2008 and the last time he sported the 'baggy green' was against England in the first Ashes Test of 2015.
Australia skipper Steve Smith hailed Haddin for his contribution to Australian cricket. Smith reminisced Haddin's performances with the willow in the Ashes 2013, where the latter pulled his side out of tricky situations with his counter-attacking fifties.
"Brad Haddin is certainly one of the best team men I've ever been around ... always put the team first in every aspect. In the Australian set-up as well he was always took me under his wing and helped me develop as a player and as a person. I'm very thankful for that. The [2013-14] home Ashes, where we won 5-0, he was a massive part of that. I think he scored 50s in the first innings in all five of those Test matches," Smith was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.
"Batting at No.7, I think he really came out and played positively. I think there were a lot of where he got us back into the game, just from sheer will and taking the game on. He was magnificent at that, and I think a lot of keepers around the world can learn from the way he played."
