Haddin's painful debut and testing career
In his column for WA Today Malcom Knox reveals how Brad Haddin endured a broken finger to play in his debut Test and the hurdles he faced during his career
ESPNcricinfo staff
16-Oct-2015
In his column for WA Today , Malcom Knox tells us how Brad Haddin played on with a broken finger in his debut Test and about his challenges on and off the field
"Johnno was spraying them a bit, and he bowled a wide down the leg side," Haddin says. "I was so keen I dived for it. Immediately I thought: 'Oh no, I've broken my finger'. The next ball I took, I knew it." Haddin turned to Mike Hussey at gully and said: "I think I've broken my finger." Hussey's eyes widened. "Don't even think about it. I'm not keeping." Haddin reassured him, saying: "I'm not going off, but I've broken my finger." He took six catches in Australia's win, another ten dismissals in the series, and scored 151 runs in six innings, but his fracture became complicated. The team physiotherapist, Alex Kountouris, contracted deep vein thrombosis and flew home for treatment. In his absence, Haddin visited a West Indian doctor who cut his fingernail off. Haddin's journey had planted him deeply inside the Australian wicketkeeping heritage: a country upbringing, a love of wicketkeeping that grew from unstoppable enthusiasm, mentorship by significant former Test keepers, and a final brew of determination, talent, patience and luck.