Brad Haddin, Australian cricket's Rocky Balboa!

Every team has batsmen who hog the limelight with their exceptional skills with the willow, looking like artists with every stroke they make on the field. And then there are those, who are not necessarily as flamboyant, but personify tenacity and courage through their game. Australia's Brad Haddin belongs to the second category. When Haddin brought up his fourth Test ton in Australia's 218-run win in the second Ashes Test at Adelaide on Monday, it put into perspective the last 15-20 months for a man who had to fight numerous battles on and off the field.

Haddin's dwindling form was starting to seem like it would bring an end to his career and his three-year-old daughter Mia's fight against cancer meant cricket had to take a backseat, at least for a while. On the tour of West Indies in 2012, where Haddin was picked as second 'choice' to Victoria's Matthew Wade in the ODI and T20 squads, he was forced to return home before the start of the series due to 'personal reasons.' That was probably the moment, when most fans and experts alike would have written his cricketing obituary. Haddin, however, had completely different plans. (Click here for full Ashes coverage)

With a predecessor like Adam Gilchrist, who was a vital cog in the Australian setup through its golden era and who seldom missed a game due to injury in his 16-year-long career, Haddin was used to waiting patiently for his turn. After attending to his family through tough times, Haddin intended to make his return. Age wasn't on his side, but then it never was, for his Test debut came when he was 31. (Also read: Clarke aims to win back top Test ranking)

In a setup that gives precedence to form irrespective of age, Haddin was hopeful of reclaiming his spot in the side. When Wade failed to capitalize the opportunities he got, Australian selectors turned to Haddin. His return came in the first Ashes 2013 Test in Nottingham where he displayed great perseverance with the bat and came close to helping Australia take a 1-0 lead in the series that largely belonged to the hosts. England eked out a 14-run win after the faintest of edges was picked up by hotspot to dismiss of Haddin in the final moments of Day 5. In spite of an Aussie defeat, the 71 established Haddin's character and that he was not going to give up his position easily. (Related read: Aussie media write off England ahead of Perth Test)

Although Australia were humbled in the series, Haddin proved that he was far from finished as he achieved a personal milestone of forcing most number of dismissals in a Test series (29). He surpassed the previous best of 28 held by Rod Marsh.

Following this series, Haddin spoke of sticking around for another two years to be able to feature in the ICC World Cup 2015. He matched his tall claims by making it back to the ODI side for the tour of India ahead of the return Ashes currently underway at home. Thirty-six-year-old Haddin is Australia's first-choice wicketkeeper in all formats. (Aussies' task is to keep Johnson on fire, says Lehmann)

With scores of 94, 53 and 118 in the three innings in the ongoing Ashes series, Haddin's life has come a full a circle since the strenuous period as a parent. His three-year-old daughter seemed to have taken a cue from her father and put up a successful fight against cancer, giving him enough reasons to try and focus on cricket again.

Haddin may not go down as a great in the annals of Australian cricket, but his self-belief and mental strength deserve due credit, especially in a day and age when stress off the field has the potential to ruin a flourishing on-field career. Haddin may not be as elegant as a Mark Waugh or as enthralling as Gilchrist, but the more you see him and the more he seems like an on-field reincarnation of Ian Healy, another man who fought no ends for his spot in the side and valued it almost on-par with his life. Haddin is Australian cricket's Rocky Balboa!