Marsh pleased with Oz wicketkeeping stocks

Cricket365
May 7, 2014

Australia's new chief selector, former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, is optimistic about his country's wicketkeeping stocks, and isn't worried about replacing Brad Haddin when the time comes.

With Haddin nearing 37, though still in top form with the gloves, thoughts have turned to his replacement, with Matthew Wade not a crowd favourite. Marsh spent the domestic season going around looking at the potential candidates.

Marsh told Cricket.com.au: "I'm one that walks into a cricket ground and the first person I notice is the wicketkeeper. It's been excellent as a selector being able to get around to all the States and watch the men at work.

"I'm delighted to think that we've got one in each State who plays an integral role in that State's success. It's really good to see.

"I'm very happy with where things are at, keeping-wise. Every State has got a keeper who has shown enough at that level to probably warrant selection at a higher level."

Marsh went on to say that he tipped Wade as the man to take over from Haddin one day, despite some poor performances with the gloves over the years, though he has improved this past season.

Marsh added: "Well he's already got two Test hundreds. He probably didn't start the season as well as he would have liked with the gloves, but towards the end of the season they were going in a lot better."

He was also impressed with Western Australia youngster Sam Whiteman, who took 44 catches in the Shield season, and averaged nearly 46 with the bat.

Marsh said: "I've been impressed with Sam. He's only a youngster, and the thing about wicketkeeping is that, if you're smart, you get better and better and better until you retire basically, because it's an art which you learn about on the job.

"You can do all the drills and all the practice that you like, but until you actually play under different conditions, and understand where to stand and how to play the percentages – that's when you really get to learn about wicketkeeping.

"Sam is only a novice at this stage because he's only kept a couple of seasons, but what he has done is get better in those couple of seasons, and his batting has been terrific.

"I think he made five or six 50s this year. (The hundreds) will come, he's a good cricketer."