About Me
Brad Haddin
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Australia, NSW, Sydney Sixers. Commentator
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Q: In July of 1999, Phil Emery announced his retirement from first-class cricket. His were big shoes to fill; he was second on the all-time list of most games played for the Blues, and held the record for most dismissals, with 332 catches and 46 stumpings. I wanted more than anything to have a chance to make that kind of contribution, but I wasn’t the only keeper in contention. Craig Glassock was still part of the squad and the name of another Second XI player, Nigel Taylor was also bandied about. Coach Steve Small was keeping his options open until the start of the season got closer. There was only one thing for me to do, and it wasn’t sitting and fretting, it was working even harder than ever. I knew the selectors would be scrutinising every aspect of my game and of my attitude and I was going to make sure they knew that I was up for the challenge.
The hard work paid off: when the team was announced at the start of the season I was named as keeper for both one-dayers and the Sheffield Shield. It was an incredibly proud moment for me and my whole family. But it was an opening, an opportunity, not a crowning achievement. I was in the hot seat and I wouldn’t stay there long if I didn’t perform
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The hard work paid off: when the team was announced at the start of the season I was named as keeper for both one-dayers and the Sheffield Shield. It was an incredibly proud moment for me and my whole family. But it was an opening, an opportunity, not a crowning achievement. I was in the hot seat and I wouldn’t stay there long if I didn’t perform
Click to buy -
https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460752494/my-familys-keeper
/question
Q: My first Shield game with Steve and Mark Waugh
The very busy schedule of the test players meant we didn’t get to see a lot of them, but it was great for us young blokes when we did get access to them. Their knowledge and experience was invaluable and I soaked it up. Because of their commitments against touring Pakistani and Indian teams, I didn’t get to play with the Waugh twins until our fifth Shield match of the season. We were at the WACA having a hit a couple of days before the game when Steve Waugh bowled me a bouncer. I ducked, thinking, What’s going on?? Is it some kind of softening-up ritual? He bowled me another one. Okay, I was getting rattled now. We’d hardly spoken, but had I done something to annoy him somehow? Did he just not like me? Then he sent down another bouncer. I moved from wondering if he was cranky to getting fired up myself. Tugga, as he was known to us, was the captain of the Australian team, an amazing cricketer we all looked up to. But in that moment I thought, Steve Waugh or not, if he does that again I’m going to hit him out of the net. Sure enough, the next ball was another bouncer and sure enough I hit it out. He gave me a satisfied nod and said, “I heard you had a good pull shot; I just wanted to check it.”
The above are extracts from Brad Haddin book "My Family’s Keeper" and published with approval. You can purchase the books through Harper Collings Publishing
Click to buy -
The very busy schedule of the test players meant we didn’t get to see a lot of them, but it was great for us young blokes when we did get access to them. Their knowledge and experience was invaluable and I soaked it up. Because of their commitments against touring Pakistani and Indian teams, I didn’t get to play with the Waugh twins until our fifth Shield match of the season. We were at the WACA having a hit a couple of days before the game when Steve Waugh bowled me a bouncer. I ducked, thinking, What’s going on?? Is it some kind of softening-up ritual? He bowled me another one. Okay, I was getting rattled now. We’d hardly spoken, but had I done something to annoy him somehow? Did he just not like me? Then he sent down another bouncer. I moved from wondering if he was cranky to getting fired up myself. Tugga, as he was known to us, was the captain of the Australian team, an amazing cricketer we all looked up to. But in that moment I thought, Steve Waugh or not, if he does that again I’m going to hit him out of the net. Sure enough, the next ball was another bouncer and sure enough I hit it out. He gave me a satisfied nod and said, “I heard you had a good pull shot; I just wanted to check it.”
The above are extracts from Brad Haddin book "My Family’s Keeper" and published with approval. You can purchase the books through Harper Collings Publishing
Click to buy -
https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460752494/my-familys-keeper
/question
Q: Extract from My family's Keeper
NSW Shield Squad Training
Well I couldn’t just stand around like a shag on a rock, so I took myself over to Phil Emery and asked if he needed some catches. He did, and that was the beginning of an invaluable 12 months that basically formed the next stage of my apprenticeship.
I didn’t do much catching myself with him – I was there to throw and hit endless balls to help him in his preparation. But by doing that I got an outstanding education. We built a good relationship and he answered countless questions. A lot of it was technical. He would tell me to hit balls to him in certain ways to certain spots. When we took a break I’d ask him why he’d made those choices, what he was working on. I’d also draw on his huge match experience, asking him, “What happens when it kicks out of the rough, or when it’s keeping low? Where do you stand?” He’d come back from playing a Shield game and we’d talk specifics about the wicket: “Perth bounces a lot these days, so what you need to do is…”or “The SCG turns big on the last day so the things to remember are…”I absorbed it all and stored it away in my mental encyclopedia.
Emmers also taught me a huge amount about the mental side of the game and about earning the right to play. He spoke a lot about what playing for NSW meant, about the proud tradition encapsulated in the Baggy Blue and what it signified to play for the most successful side in the world at the state/province/county level. I understood. The cap demanded success of those who wore it: they were the best in the game and as a kid coming through the ranks you had to earn the right to be around them.
Click to buy -
NSW Shield Squad Training
Well I couldn’t just stand around like a shag on a rock, so I took myself over to Phil Emery and asked if he needed some catches. He did, and that was the beginning of an invaluable 12 months that basically formed the next stage of my apprenticeship.
I didn’t do much catching myself with him – I was there to throw and hit endless balls to help him in his preparation. But by doing that I got an outstanding education. We built a good relationship and he answered countless questions. A lot of it was technical. He would tell me to hit balls to him in certain ways to certain spots. When we took a break I’d ask him why he’d made those choices, what he was working on. I’d also draw on his huge match experience, asking him, “What happens when it kicks out of the rough, or when it’s keeping low? Where do you stand?” He’d come back from playing a Shield game and we’d talk specifics about the wicket: “Perth bounces a lot these days, so what you need to do is…”or “The SCG turns big on the last day so the things to remember are…”I absorbed it all and stored it away in my mental encyclopedia.
Emmers also taught me a huge amount about the mental side of the game and about earning the right to play. He spoke a lot about what playing for NSW meant, about the proud tradition encapsulated in the Baggy Blue and what it signified to play for the most successful side in the world at the state/province/county level. I understood. The cap demanded success of those who wore it: they were the best in the game and as a kid coming through the ranks you had to earn the right to be around them.
Click to buy -
https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9781460752494/my-familys-keeper
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