After fighting so hard to return to the international scene, Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin isn’t keen to leave without ticking two tasks off his cricketing bucket list.
“I’d like to win an Ashes. And a World Cup,” the 36-year-old tells AAP.
“I’ll take those two.”
In the twilight of his career, the 36-year-old returned to the Test and ODI teams this year after seemingly being usurped by the younger Matthew Wade.
Wade himself has now taken a back seat in the wicketkeeping battle, with Tasmania’s Tim Paine earning praise from chairman of selectors John Inverarity while Haddin is well entrenched in the Test and ODI sides.
Haddin’s return to the national squads has coincided with far more significant news off the field for the gritty New South Welshman.
His daughter, Mia, was 17 months old when diagnosed with cancer but her condition improved this year to the point where Haddin felt a return to the national stage was possible.
Through it all, Haddin never had any concerns over his own ability to make an impact for Australia – as long as his home life was in order.
“I wouldn’t have come back if I didn’t think I had more to give,” Haddin adds.
“I never doubted I could get back to this level.
“It was only when circumstances allowed me to get back to playing cricket.
“And if I didn’t think I had anything to offer, I wouldn’t have kept challenging myself to get better.
“I would’ve walked away from the game.
“The game’s been great to me.
“Now I’m in a situation where I’ve got a lot of good cricket in front of me and looking forward to all of it.”
Haddin will be 37 by the time the World Cup rolls around in February 2015, but says he’s confident of being at the top of his game.
“I feel in good shape with where my game is at,” he said.