Technique key for wicketkeepers in unforgiving India: Haddin

Australia’s four-Test series against India begins in Pune on February 23 and wicket-keeper Matthew Wade, who is recovering from a back spasm, will play a important role if the visitors have to do well in India. “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,” the 39-year-old said. 

Former stumper Haddin had gone to New Zealand as an assistant coach for the ODI series and he had a chat with Wade, who had to return home without playing a game because of a back injury. “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.” Haddin also said Wade was hugely disappointed to miss out on becoming Australia’s 24th ODI captain, with the role instead taken up by Aaron Finch.