BRAD Haddin's last international season included more acrobatics than Circus Royale as he flung himself inside out to take some miracle catches.

But after the headiness of those magical moments, Haddin has now come crashing back to reality. He faces an anxious wait until Monday before learning if injury will continue to wreck his Ashes preparation - or maybe even scupper his chances of being involved in the series at all.

Haddin has been dogged by ligament damage to his left elbow. It's the same problem that plagued Sachin Tendulkar for a good eight months.

You're better off recovering from a broken arm than the equivalent of tennis elbow.

Wicketkeeping isn't the problem. Physical fitness isn't the problem. Enthusiasm is never the problem for Haddin.

He's cherished every one of his 27 Tests and is desperate to add to his tally. Any tour of India is intriguing and combative, but let's get fair dinkum.

For Haddin, captain Ricky Ponting and every other Australian player, the only thing that really matters this season is winning back the urn and then going back to the subcontinent to grab another World Cup.

Haddin was in the form of his life before the elbow injury, with all those diving, one-handed catches last season.