Chris Hartley confident of being best wicketkeeper in Australia

Sydney: Queensland player Chris Hartley has said that he is confident he is the best wicketkeeper in Australia, after being frustrated by the nation`s preference for Brad Haddin, Tim Paine and Matthew Wade.

According to News.com.au, Hartley, 31, insists his first-class record and reputation compares favourably to all of them and he has no doubt he has what it takes to play Test cricket. Haddin will be 36 this month and while Wade is seen as a long-term one-day gloveman, it may not be a good sign for his Test prospects that he had to step aside for Haddin in the Ashes, the report said. That leaves Paine, a wicketkeeper of promise but who seems to be injured more often than not, the report added. While Paine`s batting is often hyped up, the Tasmanian has just one century from 63 first-class games while Hartley has seven centuries from 93 matches, the report further said. Hartley is coming off some of his best seasons and has no doubt he can outperform any `keeper in the land, according to the report. He said that he definitely thinks he is good enough to play Test cricket for Australia and that is still one of his goals, adding that looking at the wicketkeeping position in the Australian team over the last 12-18 months, he does not think it is a settled position. ANI