Junior cricketers lap up batting tips from Australian Test star Brad Haddin
FORMER Test cricketer Brad Haddin will be an excellent coach with juniors, if his interaction with local cricketers is any indication.
Rouse Hill
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FORMER Test cricketer Brad Haddin will be an excellent coach with juniors, if his interaction with local cricketers is any indication.
Visiting Vinegar Hill Memorial Library at Rouse Hill Town Centre last Tuesday to promote his book, My Family’s Keeper, the classy wicketkeeper-batsman stepped easily into the shoes of a speaker as he spoke about his compelling autobiography while fielding various questions from the audience.
Haddin, 39, whose stirring exploits behind the stumps and with the bat helped Australia to win back the 2013/14 Ashes and 2015 World Cup, however, almost gave it all away to be there for his ailing daughter Mia.
Haddin remains passionate about his cricket and passed on invaluable tips to the several youngsters who turned up to see their hero.
When one of the youngsters told him he had a problem facing up to the fastest bowler in the competition, Haddin told him: “Next time, wait until you see the ball right close up and then play it.”
When the energetic youngster asked him if it’s OK to slog the ball when it is comes up on the leg side:” Haddin smiled and said: “Yes, go it for it mate!”
Later Haddin and his charming wife Karina met several delighted junior cricketers from the Schofields Cricket Club who got more than they expected with the Test star willing to chat on various issues, including the ball-tampering accusations about South African captain Faf du Plessis and how to improve their game.
“Were you always a wicketkeeper?” asked one junior, to which Haddin replied: “No, when I was young I wanted to be a fast bowler but I knew I did not have the height for it.”
In-between all this, he cheerfully signed copies of his book, T-shirts, caps and bats.
Scott Boyd, the spokesman for the Schofields CC, said it was a wonderful moment for the team to meet the star.
“This is brilliant and everyone is happy to meet Brad and speak to him,” Boyd said.
Haddin, who won his baggy green at the ripe age of 30, played 66 Tests, 126 ODIs, 34 T20 internationals and 184 first class games in his career where he gave all and took nothing for granted.
The meeting was co-ordinated by Dymocks Rouse Hill owner Lynne Allister via a club volunteer.
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