Consider this. Between September 1988 and April 2012, Australia has had only five Prime Ministers, six test captains and six test match wicketkeepers. But given three of the glovemen - Phil Emery, Graham Manou, and Tim Paine - have stood in just six of the 264 tests in that time, it is essentially easier to win in a federal election in Australia than it is to wear the gloves and the baggy green in a test match.
So when incumbent Brad Haddin withdrew from the tour of the Caribbean on the eve of the test series for personal reasons, reserve Matthew Wade was well aware of the enormity of the opportunity he had been given.
Replacing a long-term Australian gloveman is a thankless task. Five wicketkeepers were tried in the four years following Rod Marsh’s retirement. The sixth was the only one to survive three consecutive test series. Ian Healy eventually played 119 of 120 test matches. Such was the Queenslander’s popularity; his replacement was booed to the crease in his first test match in 1999. Adam Gilchrist was never booed again in his astonishing 96-test career. He took just 134 minutes to step out of Healy’s shadow, making a swash-buckling 81 on test debut, and created his own legend only a fortnight later with an breath-taking 149 not out in a record run-chase in Hobart.
Gilchrist created a monster for those following in his footsteps. He revolutionised the role of a wicket keeper batsman. Rod Marsh was the first Australian gloveman to make a test century. He made three in his career, Healy trumped that with four. Gilchrist produced eight in his first 43 tests including, at the time, the fastest double-century ever made. His 5570 test runs at 47.60, with a blistering strike-rate of 81.95 and 17 test centuries, resemble the record of a tremendous batsman, let alone a wicket-keeper who effected 416 dismissals, more than any other in his country’s history.
For Brad Haddin, an outstanding player in his own right, Gilchrist’s career casts a pall over his. Like the smog of a heavily polluted metropolis, it is suffocating, unrelenting, and permanent. There are days when the sun peeks through, and shines a light on its magnificence, yet we will never see its greatness in clear, unfiltered light.
Haddin’s record is impressive. Three test centuries in 43 matches, averaging 35.82. Healy averaged 27 across his career, but had never passed 71 in his first 43 tests. Haddin’s record even compares favourably with MS Dhoni, whose test average, strike-rate, and century tally, is only marginally in front of the New South Welshman, with 24 more tests to his name.
Despite this, the 34-year-old Haddin has a problem. It is doubtful in the week coinciding with Anzac Day the Australian selectors will have the Ode of Remembrance at the front of their minds, “Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.”
A man ten years Haddin’s junior, a man who has overcome many obstacles to play test cricket for Australia, may well have gone from seat-warmer to incumbent in the glorious sunshine of Dominica.
Matthew Wade’s maiden test century was of the highest quality. In a series where no Australian has reached 80, Wade’s devastating counter-attack, to tilt the game in Australia’s favour, had a bit of Marsh, Healy, Gichrist, and Haddin all rolled in.
It wasn’t the breath-taking, mind-blowing, assault of Gilchrist on Wasim, Waqar, Saqlain, and Mushtaq in Hobart 1999, but it did feature some equally strong slog sweeps and crisp drives. It was remarkably similar to Marsh’s Centenary Test century. As in 1977, the game was on a knife’s edge needing a tough uncompromising innings from a tough uncompromising player. The scorecard had a similar feel to Healy’s 161 not out against the West Indies in Brisbane, 1996. Healy, like Wade, entered at five down with less than 200 up, batting first after fits and starts from his top order, only to take control with the lower order and set up a match-winning first innings total.
Although it featured some Haddin-esque clean striking, including one enormous straight six, there are no comparisons to any of Haddin’s test centuries.
Reason being that Haddin’s three hundreds have come in relatively more comfortable circumstances. All three were made with at least one player in front of him having already reached three figures, and the best, against England in the first Ashes test of 2010-11, was made redundant by England’s second innings total of 1 for 517.
Wade’s century was made even better by the situation posed to him on match eve. His captain spoke of Haddin’s return to the test fold as a fait accompli. The analysts read this as Michael Clarke’s loyalty to his NSW teammate and a man who he first played under in first-class cricket. But this would be narrow-minded. Captaincy is part-psychology. Clarke has spent enough time with Wade over the past few months to know his story and know that he responds to a challenge.
Wade, aged 16, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He has subsequently beaten two rounds of chemotherapy. He moved away from home at 19, from Tasmania to Victoria, forced by the knowledge that he would live in the shadow of the highly regarded Tim Paine should he remain in Hobart. He had also rescued Victoria in the 2009-10 Sheffield Shield final from near disaster on day one. Wade made a gritty 96 on a difficult wicket, after his team floundered at 6-75 with four international representatives failing in the top order. Clarke had to know that a public comment about Haddin’s return would inspire Wade to make the most of his opportunity.
Wade had done nothing wrong in his first two tests, but he had not made a statement to the selectors to say that he wanted the job long term. His glovework has been sound, if not marginally better than Haddin’s recent efforts. Wade has scarcely missed a chance and although his bye count is high, difficult wickets, and some wayward deliveries inflate it, thus he can hardly be blamed. Keepers often measure themselves against their direct opponent in the series, and Wade has had Carlton Baugh’s measure in all facets.
Wade’s batting possibly lacks the class or devastation of Haddin, but probably features more mental resolve. He needed a score of significance to make Haddin’s return a question rather than a foregone conclusion.
Suddenly it is a loud question that will only get louder. Haddin’s value was being queried in South Africa last year, when a brain explosion in Cape Town made him the headline act in a 47 all out horror show. The stroke he played was inexplicable and the rage of those watching was incandescent. But Haddin’s predecessor had played equally mind-boggling strokes at equally vital junctures. At Edgbaston in 2005, Gilchrist holed out to mid on off Ashley Giles, for just 1, in that famous two-run loss. But Haddin’s highlights are far less frequent than Gilchrist’s and thus his credits in the bank are fast running out.
With Wade rising to his captain’s challenge, is Haddin’s career over? It would be an unfortunate end to a contribution that will never be truly valued. But the job is a tough one, and you are made to earn it. Wade has done all that has been asked of him and more. Australian wicketkeeping is as ruthless as federal politics, and the caucus may well have spoken.
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