Haddin takes his chance at the top of the order

When Shaun Marsh was injured, and Dave Warner was dropped, Brad Haddin jumped at the opportunity to bat up the order with open hands. He has not let us down.

In the 2nd ODI at the MCG against the Kiwis he was moved up to number 3, but struggled in his 12. In the next game, he replaced Dave Warner and made a superb 109 to help Australia win. Haddin was in brilliant form at the Adelaide oval, making 43 but was run out in dramatic circumstances when he looked like going on for another big score. He then made a blistering 88* last night in the rain affected decider at the Gabba.

Haddin's superb form at the top of the order reminds everyone of Steve Waugh's decision to move Adam Gilchrist up to the top of the order some 10 years ago. He made a hundred in his 2nd innings and cemented his spot as opener until the end of his career. Haddin looks to have done the same thing.

He opened the batting early in his one day career for Australia, but didn't capitalize on his chances. He has grabbed this chance at the first bite and he doesn't seem to want to let it go. And Steve Waugh believes that Haddin can fill the role. "He's well suited up the top of the order, a bit like Adam Gilchrist", he said. Haddin told ABC radio last night that he likes opening. "I enjoy the top of the order, I did it years ago for NSW and maybe I gave the selectors something to think about", he said.

Haddin certainly has the technique to fill the role. He can attack from the start, in the same fashion that Adam Gilchrist did so often over the years. He can also play the conservative role, and build and innings when the bowling is tight, and then attack later on. This is what he did in his brilliant knock of 109. He struggled early, but was able to make up for that by scoring quick runs later on in his innings.

One of the main concerns about Haddin being Australia's choice as an opener is whether is keeping will suffer. His keeping so far for Australia has been good, but not great and it is not really known yet how he will go after keeping for 50 overs, and then opening the batting in this hectic schedule that Australia has.

Adam Gilchrist was able to carry the workload, scoring 9200 runs in 260 matches, while also taking 416 catches with 54 stumpings. He credited his ability of not getting injured and being able to open the batting and keep for 50 overs to his wife who is a dietitian.

There have been many keepers that have opened the batting or batted up the order. Of the current players, Kumar Sangakkara and MS Dhoni have both opened the batting, the former averaging 41 and scoring 4 hundreds. While Dhoni has made a 96 in his 2 stints at the top. There is also New Zealand keeper Brendon McCullum who averages 34 as opener, 6 runs better than when he bats lower in the order.

Haddin's biggest test will be his next 12 months, where he tours South Africa, Pakistan, England and India. That will be made tougher if his position at the top of the order is cemented. He will captain Australia tomorrow in the T20 against New Zealand at the SCG before they jet off to South Africa next week.