IT was not all bad news for Australian cricket fans yesterday - No. 1 wicket-keeper Brad Haddin survived his first serious hit-out with the bat since elbow surgery.
Just hours before his Aussie teammates slumped to a final-day Test defeat in India, Haddin looked a picture of health as he blasted 77 runs off 81 balls for NSW in a second XI game in western Sydney. It came after an unbeaten half-centruy for Easts in grade cricket on the weekend.
Despite being sidelined the past five months through injury - and forced to watch replacement gloveman Tim Paine shine in his place - Haddin made it clear he would not only be fit this summer but pose a serious Ashes threat for England.
The clean bill of health prompted Haddin to declare himself a shock starter for NSW in Saturday's first one-dayer against South Australia.
"I'll be right for the one-dayer on Saturday, we've got a Sheffield Shield game [next week], which will be the test."
