Melbourne [Australia], August 10 : Former wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin has been appointed as the new fielding coach of the Australian national cricket team.
The 39-year-old, who is a veteran of 66 Tests and 126 One-Day International games, will replace Greg Blewett for the role until the end of 2019.
Ecstatic to get the opportunity, Haddin said that he is looking forward to work with a relatively young group of players.
"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.
They were the type of players who took it personally if the team wasn't fielding well and that created a level for the rest of the group to aspire to," cricket.com.au quoted Haddin, as saying.
Haddin further pointed out that as he has a background in wicket-keeping, he would try his level best to guide the keepers to the kind of standard required in the Australian cricket.
"I want to hold this group accountable to that kind of standard and I believe we have the talent to do that.
It will be hard work but I am looking forward to the challenge. 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," he added.
While Haddin has joined the Australia coaching staff ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, Greg Blewett will return home to take a role with the South Australian Cricket Association.
Haddin moved into coaching almost immediately after calling curtains to his career during the 2015 Ashes series, taking up assisting roles with the NSW and Australia Under-17 and Under-19 squads.
Last year, he also served as an assistant with the Australia A squad against India and South Africa's 'A' alongside former Test teammate Ryan Harris before the duo stepped up to assist the national team on the Qantas Tour of New Zealand.
Source: ANI
