Brad Haddin has held the most nerve-fraying position in Australian cricket and is now waiting for confirmation of his promotion. Having seen off Darren Berry, Wade Seccombe and Ryan Campbell, he has been the wicketkeeper-in-waiting and entrusted with warming the seat whenever Adam Gilchrist needs a rest. Slip up and be forgotten; perform well, as he has over the past few seasons, and suffer a speedy demotion when the incumbent returns. Gilchrist is about to go and Haddin is the No.1 contender for his Test and one-day gloves.

Haddin is also the next generation's target and has to ward off the challenges of like-minded-but-younger aggressive batsmen and keepers. At 30 he still has time - and talent - on his side for a lengthy international career, but following Gilchrist will not be easy. However, the pressure of being No. 2 has not hindered his batting over the past three seasons and his keeping to a New South Wales attack swinging from Brett Lee to Stuart MacGill has remained sharp. In 2004-05 he scored 916 first-class runs at 57.25 while leading the Blues to a one-wicket Pura Cup victory over Queensland and he also posted an impressive limited-overs century for Australia A against Pakistan.

A regular leader of Australia's 2nd XI, Haddin backed up in 2005-06 with 617 Pura Cup runs at 51.41 and added another 669 at 55.75 last summer. Haddin, the World Cup understudy who did not play a game, has appeared in more than 25 ODIs, including some as a specialist batsman - his top score of 87 not out came during the 2007 India series. He was also a tourist for the 2005 Ashes but was used only once as a one-day Supersub and finished the game without having a hit.

Haddin, a former Australia Under-19 captain who grew up in Gundagai, began his domestic career in 1997-98 with the Australian Capital Territory in their debut Mercantile Mutual Cup season, and two years later was playing for New South Wales. Promoted to the one-day outfit in 2000-01 as a replacement for Gilchrist, he has been on the national contract list for the past four years.
Peter English February 2008

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May 16, 2008 Brad Haddin appeals for Lorenzo Ingram's wicket © Getty Images

Mar 19, 2008 Simon Katich and Brad Haddin celebrate New South Wales' Pura Cup triumph © Getty Images

Mar 16, 2008 Brad Haddin catches Peter Siddle © Getty Images

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