Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Haddin safe, but Wade's ready: Warne

Updated January 18, 2012 13:57:01

Shane Warne has backed under-siege Brad Haddin to remain Australian wicketkeeper but says his Melbourne Stars team-mate Matthew Wade is ready to replace him.

Haddin has not scored a Test century since November 2010 and in his past four Tests has scored just 53 runs at an average of 10.6.

His work behind the stumps has also come under fire, putting the Test vice-captain under pressure.

Warne said Haddin should be given more time to work his way out of his form slump.

"I think Brad Haddin has been a wonderful player for Australia and cricket is a performance-based game; if you perform you play and if you don't perform you shouldn't play, that's the way sport is," said Warne before training with the Stars.

"If you're not doing your job well, get someone else to do it.

"With Brad Haddin, I think he's doing a good job and hopefully he can find some form because he's a wonderful player."

While Tim Paine will miss the entire summer following two rounds of surgery on a damaged finger, Wade has emerged as the heir apparent.

He impressed in his two Twenty20 Internationals for Australia last year and has scored 316 runs, averaging 63.2 in the Sheffield Shield.

Warne said the 24-year-old was up to the job if called upon.

"If his opportunity comes I think he's ready to play," he said.

"I think he's definitely the next keeper after Brad Haddin, whenever Brad Haddin's time is up.

"Hopefully he (Haddin) makes a big hundred in Adelaide and he's fine, he can play for another fair bit of time.

"But if things panned out and the selectors decided to go another way then Matthew Wade would 100 per cent do a great job in all forms of the game and he's ready to go."

AAP

Tags: cricket, sport, melbourne-3000, adelaide-5000, sa, vic, australia

First posted January 18, 2012 13:57:01


View the original article here

No comments:

Post a Comment