Brad Haddin announces retirement from Test cricket

Brad Haddin announces retirement from Test cricket: 37-year old Australian wicket-keeper batsman Brad Haddin today announced retirement from Test cricket and with that has now retired from all forms of international cricket, since he had already called it a day from ODIs following Australia’s world cup triumph early this year.

With this Haddin now joins Ryan Harris, Michael Clarke, Chris Roggers and Shane Watson, to be the 5^th Australian to retire from Test cricket in and around Ashes 2015.

Confirming the news Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland said, “His tenacity with bat and gloves was matched with an unflinching will to win which made him the foundation of a changing team,”

“Brad’s strong performances and positive influence on the team were all the more remarkable given he was dealing with the serious illness suffered by his daughter Mia.

“He showed true leadership at the most difficult of times and proved a loyal deputy to Michael Clarke when appointed vice-captain from the 2013 Ashes series.

“Brad can be enormously proud of his contribution to Australian cricket on and off the field.” He said.

The wicket-keeper has decided to skip his commitment with NSW Blues this summer, but will return to cricket later to play for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL.

Haddin who played 66 Tests for Australia has 270 dismissals as a wicketkeeper (262 catches & 8 stumpings) is follows Adam Gilchrist (416), Ian Healy (395) and Rod Marsh (355) in the list of Australian wicket-keepers with most dismissals in Test cricket.

Also Read – Top 10 Wicket keepers with most runs in international Cricket

He was also an able batsman and had important contributions to make lower down the order. Haddin scored 3,266 runs at an average of 32.98, with 4 hundreds and 18 half-centuries in his 14 years international cricketing career.

Haddin held a press conference at the SCG on Wednesday where he conveyed his decision and told the reporters that, “I’ve only ever wanted to play at the SCG. It’s great to be here today to make my announcement,”

“I came to the realisation after Lord’s. I’ve had a privileged run, but I lost the hunger on the Ashes Tour. It was an easy decision to retire.”

“It was all about making myself the best cricketer I could be every time I walked out on the training paddock – I probably lost that hunger from there (Lord’s).”

What he thinks are the highlights of his career? Haddin said: “I think obviously, Ashes campaigns. Whether you win or lose I think, they’re pretty special moments in someone’s career.

“For me, it’s the relationships you make with your team-mates – to have the New South Wales players here today means a lot.”

About the future of Australian cricket Haddin said, “I think Australian cricket is in good stead. We’ve got great depth, we’ve got good people around to help them (players) achieve what they need to achieve,”

“It’s an exciting time, I think we can cover all the retirements.

“We’ve got a great leader in Steve Smith, and the best thing about Steve at the moment he’s on top of his game. He’s going to be a great leader for Australia for a long time.”

His decision to sit out to be with his family during the Ashes suggested him that the hunger inside him was subsiding and Haddin said he will now spend some time with his family post retirement.

“(My wife) Karina and I would like to get more involved with Westmead Hospital and see if we can do anything to help there,” he said.

“It gives me the opportunity to sit back and watch the kids growing up.

“(My son) Zac says I’m not allowed to retire from, what is it, sixes (Twenty20)? So I’ve got to play that, yeah.”