Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin says he will take a couple of weeks to decide whether he continues playing, but isn't dirty on the national selectors for being dropped from the Test side.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 37-year-old was controversially left out of the third Ashes Test after he skipped the second Test to be with his ill daughter Mia.
While teammates such as Test opener Chris Rogers were understood to be upset with Haddin's axing, the veteran gloveman told Fairfax Media on Friday he knew that was always a risk. Haddin has been replaced in the Australian Test team by Peter Nevill.
"I put myself in that position to not come back, my performances with the bat probably hadn't been where they should be," Haddin said.
"I made the decision for my family that I was unavailable for the Lord's Test. We're playing a professional sport and I understand the consequences that come with that. My performances with the bat over the last little bit put myself into that position."
Haddin will be back in Canberra on Saturday to attend the ANU's Open Day.
The Queanbeyan product is an ambassador for the ANU after having played his first senior cricket there as a 15-year-old.
While Haddin is still weighing up his future, he said he wasn't surprised with captain Michael Clarke's decision to retire from international cricket.
"Michael's been a great player for Australia for a long time and I think he's stated in the past that you play for these big tournaments, like an Ashes campaign," he said. "I think once they're not there, he's given the opportunity to Steve Smith to build his team.
"Michael's had a fantastic run, his record speaks for itself. I wasn't that shocked to see him go after the Ashes, he's done everything in his career and there was nothing left to achieve, so he deserves to hold his head high and enjoy retirement."
Haddin was confident Smith would be able to lead the Australian team into a successful era and put his own stamp on a new-look outfit.
"I think the most important thing with Steve taking over is that he's at the top of his game with the bat," Haddin said. "He doesn't have to second guess himself, his form with the bat over the past 12 months has been nothing short of outstanding.
"He will grow into his leadership and he's got a chance to mould the Test and one-day team the way he likes leading into some big tournaments."
Haddin has had a relationship with ANU for more than 20 years. "For a 15-year-old, it was pretty daunting to walk in with a group of men and play first-grade cricket," he said.
"But ANU were very accommodating and made me feel very comfortable. I was taken right out of my comfort zone very early, but I was lucky to be given the opportunity there and fortunate to meet some great people along the way."
Haddin said Australia couldn't blame the English conditions and speculation of doctored wickets for the 3-2 series loss in the Ashes.
"There was talk of the use of different wickets, but that's the beauty of Test cricket - you've got to adapt to different conditions all around the world," he said.
"That's one of the most exciting things about playing overseas - whether it's India, South Africa, New Zealand - being able to adapt to those conditions and call yourself international players.
"A couple of times we did a really good job and a couple of times it wasn't the standards we expect."
