Thursday, September 21 2006 10:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kuala Lumpur: Adam Gilchrist looms large in the life of Brad Haddin but Australia's second-choice wicketkeeper tries hard not to think about when the 34-year-old will retire. If he does, his form suffers.

Several years ago, shortly after making his one-day debut in January 2001, he began to ponder life beyond Gilchrist and paid the consequences.

"I haven't thought too much about it, I probably thought a bit about it a few years back and it probably affected my performance, now I just concentrate on doing what works for me, if the opportunity arises then so be it," he says.

"Adam's a world class athlete and I do everything I can to prepare to play cricket for New South Wales or Australia, and if I spend too much time worrying about what Adam's doing, it'll affect my performance."

Gilchrist is being rested for the tri-series here with India and the West Indies and Haddin has seized his chance by the scruff of the neck, cracking a career-best 70 against the Windies on Monday (18 Sep, 2006).

It bore all the hallmarks of a staunch middle-order fighter, as much in the fashion of Ian Healy as the free-hitting Gilchrist.

His glove work has also been polished, after working on his technique with the legendary Healy.

"I'm not too fussed where I bat, I've batted (in) many different spots with the state side, and with this team I fit in at seven at the moment," says Haddin, 28, who still has age on his side to have a lengthy international career.

"My number one job is to wicket keep, and the opportunities to bat I take those wherever I can whether it be from one to 11, so I'm just enjoying having an extended run."

Last month Gilchrist said he was looking at remaining in cricket beyond next year's World Cup in the Caribbean after earlier indicating that he might quit to spend more time with his young family.

He requires 41 more dismissals to usurp Healy at the top of the Test wicket-keeping list.