Australia’s wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has announced his retirement from the international Twenty20 game.
The 33-year-old had to bide his time before making his mark at international level, where he was preceded by Adam Gilchrist, but has made a significant contribution for Australia in all forms of the game, making 25 T20 appearances while playing 90 one-day internationals and 33 Tests.
Whilst he intends to end his T20 career, Haddin is clearly keen to continue in both five-day and ODI cricket. He has scored nearly 2,000 Test runs since his debut in 2008 and made 2,466 one-day runs at an average of 32.02. With the current side still transition, the selectors will no doubt value his experience to help the younger generation adapt to the demands of international cricket.
"I thoroughly enjoy Twenty20 cricket and have taken great pride from playing all three forms of the game for Australia," he said. "However I feel the time is now right for me to concentrate on Test and ODI cricket.
"This decision has been made to prolong my effectiveness in these formats and provide me further time to prepare for the demands of ODI and Test cricket. I remain extremely determined to play cricket for Australia and believe this decision will help achieve this.
"I remain committed and very excited by my role as captain of the Sydney Sixers in the KFC Big Bash League and also with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League but look forward to the periods of downtime throughout the international season this decision will create."
In giving up the short format, Haddin is following the lead of Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, both of whom have given up Twenty20 over the past two years.
His decision will allow Tim Paine to take a permanent place in Australia's Twenty20 side, when he recovers from a broken finger, and in the meantime, and if he is not fit for October’s matches against South Africa, Matthew Wadecould be in line to make his international debut.
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