Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy has endorsed Brad Haddin as the country's best Test gloveman but believes the 34-year-old hasn't yet earned the right to go out on his own terms.
Haddin, who will captain the Prime Minister's XI team in Canberra on Friday, said yesterday he felt like he had been dropped from the Australian one-day team, despite selectors telling him he was officially being rested for the first three games of Australia's campaign.
Victoria's Matthew Wade looms as Haddin's immediate challenger and will stand behind the stumps for Australia in tonight's Twenty20 international against India and in the one-day international series.
''I think any time you're out of the Australian cricket team I think you're dropped,'' Haddin said yesterday.
''You give another guy an opportunity to take your spot and you've got to look if they do well, you could find it hard to get back in the team.
''If you give your spot up and someone does well you've got no right just to walk straight back in.
''But that's the way it is and I've just got to deal with that and make sure I'm ready to play.''
Critical of his keeping early in the Australian summer, Healy said Haddin's hard work in training had been evident by the final Test against India in Adelaide.
''He was very sharp in Adelaide and back to where he needs to be,'' Healy said.
''If he plays anywhere near his potential he is the best keeper we have in the country and the best cricketing package as a keeper.''
But Healy also welcomed the selection of Wade in the shorter versions of the game, enabling Australian selectors to see how the 24-year-old coped with the step up to international level and also keeping Haddin on his toes.
Haddin told The Canberra Times last week of his desire to play on until at least next year's return Ashes series in England.
While Haddin's predecessor Adam Gilchrist was able to leave the Test arena on his own terms, retiring after 96 Tests, Healy said Haddin had not yet earned that right and would need to continue to prove himself the best man for the job.
''His career is not substantial enough for that yet,'' Healy said.
''He hasn't had a long career, so I'd reckon the 10-year mark would allow you that opportunity but certainly not [43] Tests.
''I think he's misinterpreted what [the selectors] have said totally because they have said he has been rested for the first three games... so that to me suggests that he will get his position back straight away no matter what Matty Wade does.
''I wouldn't draw the bow between [Wade] being the next Test keeper and what has happened.''
Curiously, Australian selectors have deemed it beneficial for Haddin to play during his time off, including the PM's XI match against Sri Lanka.
''I'm actually looking forward to the PM's game, for someone from Canberra it's a great opportunity to get back and captain that side,'' Haddin said.
''It's what it is at the moment. I've just got to make sure the next time I get an opportunity again I'm ready to go and I know I will be.''
Should Haddin not bounce back, Wade or Tasmania's Tim Paine are poised to unseat the incumbent Test wicketkeeper.
with Andrew Wu
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