Rediff

Jamaica, May 23: Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell has said that the team will not feel the absence of retired stumper Adam Gilchrist as his replacement Brad Haddin is a better wicketkeeper.

Haddin became the 400th Test player of his country in Australia's first Test against the West Indies that started in Jamaica on Thursday and Chappell thinks the New South Welshman would do a better job than his predecessor.

"I think Haddin will improve the standard of wicketkeeping from what we have seen from Gilchrist in the last couple of years, because there is no doubt that (Gilchrist's) wicketkeeping form was heading south and heading south fairly quickly," Chappell was quoted as saying in the Courier Mail.

Chappell said Haddin should not follow Gilchrist if he wanted to make his mark.

"I think if Haddin tries to be himself, he will be fine and Australia won't miss the Adam Gilchrist of the last couple of seasons anywhere near as much as people think.

"Haddin has improved his glovework a hell of a lot. He is also a damn good batsman. Obviously he is not as brilliant as Gilchrist, but Gilchrist's brilliance was quite spasmodic in the last couple of seasons," the Aussie great said.