NEW DELHI: Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin has expressed confidence in the longevity of the decorated fast-bowling trio – Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc – asserting that they have many more years to make significant contributions to the national team. Haddin believes that the trio is motivated to leave a lasting legacy in Test cricket.
Speaking on the Fox Cricket podcast The Follow On, Haddin remarked, "I still think they have a lot of cricket left in them. I get the feeling that they want to leave a bigger legacy on the Test match arena, and I think we are going to see a lot more of these three."
Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc have achieved top rankings in various formats of the game and currently rank among the top 15 bowlers in the ICC Test rankings. Haddin emphasised the seamless synergy among the fast-bowling trio, highlighting their distinct yet complementary skills.
"I don’t think we are going to see another three that compliment each other as well as these three do. There is no ego when they have the ball. They do different roles when they have to."
He further elaborated on the trio's unique qualities, saying, "You have the left-arm pace and swing of Mitchell Starc. You have the height and accuracy of Joshy Hazlewood, and you have got the captain in Pat Cummins, who can go up and down in gears and recognizes big moments as good as any other bowler in the modern game or before him."
Reflecting on Australia's successful 2023, where the trio played pivotal roles in the World Test Championship and Men’s ODI World Cup victories, as well as retaining the Ashes in England, Haddin anticipated a memorable reunion for the three when they eventually retire.
"It is going to be a great reunion for those three when they retire. When they finish their career, they will deserve a glass of beer or a scotch or whatever their fancy is, just to (be able) to say, ‘Wow. We played at a special time together’... They will sit back and enjoy special moments in time when their time comes to pull the pin," concluded Haddin.
Cricket enthusiasts look forward to witnessing more stellar performances from this formidable pace trio in the years to come.
(With inputs from IANS)
