Technique key in unforgiving India: Haddin

Brad Haddin says India can be an unforgiving place for a wicketkeeper, noting Matthew Wade must trust his technique in the upcoming Test series.

Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade

Brad Haddin says Matthew Wade (pic) must trust his technique in the upcoming Test series in India. (AAP)

India can be an unforgiving place to play Test cricket, especially if you're a wicketkeeper.

Batsmen based outside the sub-continent generally struggle with spin. The ball behaves differently to what they've known throughout life.

Touring bowlers confront pitches that often render them impotent. The conditions and challenges are taxing in a fashion they don't often experience at home.

However, in both cases the responsibility is shared.

Damien Martyn was Australia's leading run-scorer in their breakthrough 2004 Test series win in India, but was ably supported by different teammates in different matches.

Jason Gillespie was the leading wicket-taker, but each member of the attack had their moments with the ball.

The member of that touring party with the biggest burden was Adam Gilchrist, especially given he also served as stand-in skipper.

A single dropped catch or missed stumping can always change the course of a Test or even a series. That is particularly true in India, where Australia will have some long days in the field if Matthew Wade's partnership with his bowlers is anything but seamless.

"You just have to find a way to catch them ... sometimes you've got to catch them ugly," Brad Haddin reflected, when asked what advice he passed on to Wade last week.

"You've just got to get something behind the ball if they're bouncing short, not carrying.

"It's an unforgiving place but this team, since the Hobart Test match, is really starting to move forward and this will be a great opportunity to see how far we've come."

Australia's four-Test series against India starts in Pune on February 23.

Haddin and Wade were both in New Zealand for the recent ODI series, the former as an assistant coach and the latter as stand-in skipper.

Wade returned home without playing a game because of a back injury, but not before chewing the fat with the stumper who was both his predecessor and successor either side of an earlier stint in the Test team.

"You've got to trust your technique .. when you're put under pressure," Haddin said.

"And India can do that to a keeper.

"It can ask a lot of questions of your technique."

Wade departed on Sunday night for Dubai, where he will continue his recovery from back spasms.

Haddin noted the 29-year-old was "gutted" to miss out on becoming Australia's 24th ODI captain, an honour that instead went to Aaron Finch.

"He was disappointed ... but there was a bigger picture in India he had to get right for," Haddin said.


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world