“I am thrilled to get the opportunity to work with this young group of players”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin has succeeded Greg Blewett as the national team’s fielding coach.

Haddin, who will hold the position until the end of 2019, was appointed to the post after Blewett decided to resign.

Since retiring from international cricket after the 2015 Ashes series, Haddin has worked with New South Wales’ Under-17 and Under-19 squads.

“I am thrilled to get the opportunity to work with this young group of players,” Haddin, who is expected to travel with Australia for their tour of Bangladesh later this month, said in a statement. “I grew up in an era of players like Andrew Symonds and Ricky Ponting who gave Australian cricket a real identity in the standards of world-class fielding. They were the type of players who took it personally if the team wasn’t fielding well and that created a level for the rest of the group to aspire to.

“I want to hold this group accountable to that kind of standard and I believe we have the talent to do that. It will be hard work but I am looking forward to the challenge. Given my background is in wicketkeeping it will be great to be able to work with the ‘keepers in the side and give them a sounding board.”

Blewett stepped down to become head coach of South Australia’s Under-19 team. He will also help the Redbacks during the domestic season and hold a coaching role with the Adelaide Strikers during the Big Bash League (BBL).

“I’m very passionate about cricket in this state,” Blewett told News Corp. “Clearly there also was the lure of spending more time at home with my young family because I’ve lived a fairly selfish existence most of my life with all of the travelling for cricket.

“But I also want to help the Redbacks squads achieve good things, along with trying to broaden my coaching experience.”