"It looks like no one wants to open": Brad Haddin questions England's decision to drop Ben Foakes

Former Australia international Haddin is one of just two wicketkeepers to have scored a men's Ashes hundred in the past decade, Jonny Bairstow being the other. England opted for the batting clout of the Yorkshireman in front of the better gloveman

Brad Haddin has claimed "no one wants to open" following England's decision to drop Ben Foakes for Jonny Bairstow ahead of the Ashes.

Former Australia international Haddin is one of just two wicketkeepers to have scored a men's Ashes hundred in the past decade, Bairstow being the other.

England opted for the batting clout of the Yorkshireman in front of the better gloveman in Foakes - a gamble due to the former's lack of gametime following his recovery from a broken leg.    

Jonny Bairstow will keep wicket for England in the Ashes 2023 [Getty Images]

Haddin, who wore the gloves for Australia in 66 Test matches, told Aussie media: "I'm a Foakes fan. One, his glovework is elite, and two, he gets runs when they need them, he's a typical keeper that scores runs under pressure.

"It's a big decision, especially with the number of nicks and how influential the keeper can be in English conditions, to not have your best gloveman."

Haddin, who will be watching the Ashes in a non-playing or coaching capacity, believes the decision resulted from a lack of desire from senior players to bat at the top of the order.

Ben Foakes in action for Surrey [Getty Images]

"Jonny Bairstow demanded he come back into the team with how his performances have been of late. It looks like no one wants to open – Zak Crawley hasn't done a great deal at the top of the order, there could have been a spot up there for a batsman to have Foakes in the team, but they've gone that way.”

Despite Bairstow's value with the bat, Haddin claimed that his sometimes inconsistent glovework could provoke frustration from senior bowlers.

"He's a quality player and keeping wickets for England is not new to him, but I have seen on occasions, in Test matches I played, [Stuart] Broad and [Jimmy] Anderson get very frustrated with his work behind the stumps." 

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