Brad Haddin announced his retirement from test and domestic first-class cricket Wednesday, joining the exodus of senior players following Australia's Ashes series loss in England.
The combative wicketkeeper-batsman, who retired from one-day internationals after Australia's World Cup victory in March, was left out of the third test at Trent Bridge after being granted permission to miss the second test to be with his ill daughter. Australia lost the third and fourth tests to surrender the Ashes, and Haddin left the tour early to return to Australia.
The 37-year-old Haddin joins former captain Michael Clarke, opener Chris Rogers and allrounder Shane Watson in retiring from test and international competition since Australia's 3-2 Ashes defeat. Paceman Ryan Harris quit before the series, due to injury.
Haddin was a long time in Adam Gilchrist's shadow as wicketkeeper and didn't make his test debut until he was 30. He had a lengthy career despite the late start, playing 66 tests and scoring 3,266 runs at an average of 32.98. His highlight with the bat was when Australia swept the Ashes 5-0 on home soil in 2014.
In terms of dismissals, his 270 as a wicketkeeper are behind only Gilchrist (416), Ian Healy (395) and current chairman of selectors Rod Marsh (355) for Australia.
"Once you've lost that will to get up every morning and do those little things that give you the opportunity to play for Australia, once you lose that it's time to walk away from the game," Haddin said.
He will continue to play Twenty20 cricket for the Sydney Sixers in Australia's Big Bash League.
"Brad was a vital player during an important period in Australian cricket," Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said. "Brad's strong performances and positive influence on the team were all the more remarkable given he was dealing with the serious illness suffered by his daughter Mia."
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