Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin has said that he felt that the wisdom of advancing years will be a credential of him, instead of a curse, ahead of the back-to-back Ashes series.
Although the 35-year-old Haddin is the same age as Australian keeper legend Ian Healy was when he retired, he said that a player understands more about his game as he gets older, adding that the technique and rhythm of a keeper comes later in his career, News.com.au reports.
The report further said that Healy retired at 35 while Rod Marsh and Adam Gilchrist stayed at Test level until they were 36.
According to Haddin, he is in a good shape as any other player physically, adding that being older means that he has to challenge himself to be better than the upcoming crop of players and prove his worth.
Although Haddin has been promoted to vice-captain for the series by deposing Matthew Wade, he is aware that there is a chance that he may be changed mid-series, even though it is a sign of a team in distress, saying that no player is guaranteed to be in every Test if they do not perform as they should.
The report also said that Haddin's recall as vice-captain and first-choice wicketkeeper for the Ashes tour has been well received in both nations as a move that should bolster the mental stability of a volatile young team.
Meanwhile, Haddin has become the first Australian cricketer to publicly lament the extraordinary decision of Test captains around the world to vote Australia's Tim May off the ICC's cricket committee following pressure from India, the report added.