Haddin grabs coach job

WICKETKEEPER Matt Wade shapes as the major beneficiary of champion gloveman Brad Haddin’s appointment to the Australian full-time coaching staff.

Haddin, who has come through the CA coaching pathways since retiring, will join Darren Lehmann’s ranks until the end of 2019, replacing Greg Blewett as fielding coach, starting with this month’s Test series against Bangladesh.

Wade is looking for a strong series in tricky subcontinental conditions to cement his career behind the stumps, and having a man with 66 Tests and 126 onedayers worth of experience in his corner comes as a boost.

Haddin’s primary focus will be on demanding high standards of Australia in the field, aiming to take the team back to the Ricky Ponting era when mistakes were taken personally.

However, his keeping pedigree could prove invaluable for Wade, whose glovework remains the subject of intense scrutiny. Not since Steve Rixon’s time as an assistant to the likes of Mickey Arthur has Australia had a keeping specialist as part of its full-time staff.

Wade has been solid in his return to Test cricket since overtaking Peter Nevill and a big tour in Bangladesh could be career-shaping.

“Given my background is in wicketkeeping it will be great to be able to work with the keepers in the side and give them a sounding board,” Haddin said.

However, the World Cup and Ashes-winning star made it clear that he wants to uphold the strict fielding standards taught to him by the likes of Ponting.

“I am thrilled to get the opportunity to work with this young group of players,” he said. “I grew up in an era of players like Andrew Symonds and Ricky Ponting who gave Australian cricket a real identity in the standards of world-class fielding. I want to hold this group accountable to that kind of standard.”