Haddin adds to collection of classics

Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has book-ended day three of the third Commonwealth Bank Test with a pair of stunning catches at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

First, Haddin’s one-handed, full-length dive intercepted Cheteshwar Pujara’s thick outside edge off Ryan Harris to send the Indian No.3 back to the sheds for 25, from the second ball of the day's opening session.

The 37-year-old gave the same batsman a life on 12 late on day two, spilling a routine dismissal off right-arm quick Josh Hazlewood.

“It was a total misjudgement on my part,” Haddin said this morning about his spill on day two.

“I thought the ball was going to be a metre short so I set myself to dive forward and it carried a bit further than I thought.”

Next up, he again flew well to his right to snare another sensational grab, this time to dismiss Virat Kohli from what proved to be the final ball of the day. 

Haddin’s poor run of form with the bat had led to questions being asked about his future in the Test side, but the 37-year-old responded in this game with a fighting 55 in Australia’s first innings and now this sublime catch.

The Pujara pearler is Haddin’s 250th Test dismissal, putting him fourth on the list of most successful Australian gloveman behind Adam Gilchrist, Ian Healy and Rod Marsh.

Haddin’s classic catch joins a handful of screamers he’s snared throughout his career off some of Australia’s fastest bowlers, including Harris, Mitchell Johnson and James Pattinson.

But it was a catch off off-spinner Nathan Lyon against England in Perth last summer that gave Haddin the most satisfaction.