More to Haddin than runs, says Healy

There's no one better placed to determine Brad Haddin's Test future than the man himself.

That's the opinion of former Test wicketkeeper Ian Healy, who says Haddin's position in Australia's Test side is his for as long as he wants it.

The 37-year-old has previously hinted that the 2015 Ashes could signal the end of his career, saying last month that a third Ashes tour is "as big a carrot as you can have put in front of you".

But the series against England is still over six months away, and Haddin's form is already under the microscope after another low score on the third day of the second Commonwealth Bank Test against India.

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The vice-captain was caught at short leg for six in the morning session, dropping his average from seven matches since the end of last summer to 9.10, with a highest score in that period of 22.

It's a dramatic letdown from the high of the keeper-batsman's Ashes heroics 12 months ago; Haddin scored 493 runs and averaged over 60 against England last season, including five fifties and a century.

While Haddin's output with the bat has tailed off, Healy says his work with the gloves has stayed at the same high level it's been at since he regained his No.7 position 18 months ago.

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And after the injury to Michael Clarke forced Steve Smith's earlier-than-expected elevation to the captaincy at the age of 25, Haddin's experience and maturity are rare commodities that this side can ill afford to lose.

"I don't have a problem with his (Haddin's) position (in the side)," Healy told cricket.com.au.

"He's safe for as long as he wants to play and if his batting continues to plateau he won't enjoy playing so he'll get out, I'll reckon.

"He'll either get it right or he'll go on his own.

"Putting a rookie wicketkeeper into this current team is not ideal. They need the experience of Haddin.

"We'll know by before the end of this summer.

"If he gets that sharpness back with the bat ... he'll be right.

"If he doesn't then he'll be asking questions of himself."

Haddin's work behind the stumps was rewarded on day two of this match when he completed his sixth catch of India's first innings, equalling the Australian record held by Wally Grout, Rod Marsh and Healy.

His tidy performance back to the pacemen complimented his effort up to the stumps in last week's Test in Adelaide. He took a sharp catch off the bowling of Nathan Lyon to remove Cheteshwar Pujara, and completed the leg-side stumping that secured Australia's 48-run victory.

His keeping on the final day in Adelaide was even more impressive given he had been handed the captaincy midway through the second session when Clarke limped off the field with the right hamstring injury that has ended his series.

India had been on track for an improbable victory when Clarke left the playing arena. When he returned several hours later, it was to celebrate a victory that Haddin had orchestrated from behind the stumps, including his decision to wait until the 86th over to take the second new ball, which resulted in a wicket the very next delivery.

And while Haddin was overlooked to continue as captain in Clarke's absence, he is known to have been supportive of Smith being named skipper for the remainder of the series against India.

Healy says the past fortnight has underlined the veteran's value to this inexperienced group of players.

"He'd be very important (to the team)," Healy said.

"He's a character who'll go and talk to individuals and they need him because they haven't got too many (senior players).

"They've got Chris Rogers, who's probably feeling the pressure himself. Shane Watson's the same.

"When that happens they start to quieten up a little bit.

"Haddin's batting form won't cost him his personality in the dressing-room, I don't reckon, because of his life perspective with the illness to his daughter (Mia, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2012) and all that sort of stuff.

"He'll keep doing what's good for the team.

"He does it quite subtly, I reckon. I don't think he likes people talking about that.

"He just goes about his work and he's very aware that a big part of his work is to look after others and look out for others."