Healy, 34, is a fine example of survival of the fittest both, in terms of physical capabilities and abilities behind and in front of the wickets. An average of 3.5 dismissals per Test vouches for his credentials. There are few in today's cricket who can match his work ethics, which is backed by a credo: Maximum effort with minimum fuss. A mantra which has helped him to be hand in glove for long with Australia's success story.

He is the voice of Australian cricket. ``Well bowled, Warnee,'' has an all too familiar a ring as the stumps microphone picks up the Healy exhortations.Healy has been a major contributory factor in Shane Warne's matchless accomplishments. Keeping to spinners is always a tough ask, more so against a wizard likeWarne, who has seemingly limitless tricks up his sleeve. And this is the fundamental difference between him and Marsh as 'keepers -- the latter's success coming mainly against a strong Aussie pace attack.

Healy has done his bit of studies in psychology and sports science. One often gets the feeling that his mid-over, middle-of-the-wicket pow-vows with Warne is a psychological ploy to plant seeds of apprehensions in the batsman's minds.

Healy's record must be seen in the light that 'keepers rarely get their dues. A five-wicket haul in an innings by a bowler or a knock of 80 gets the accolades and headlines. But a 'keeper almost never gets the same credit for five dismissals in an innings.

Here is a job which affords no relaxation. No hiding at third man or rushing into the dressing room for a brief respite. He has to offer generous inputs to his skipper and keep exercising his vocal chords to ensure that the enthusiasm of the bowlers do not flag. Yet, at the same time, his job calls for totalconcentration and involvement.

One of the best No 7 batsman in the world, and certainly the most reliable in that position, the Healy touch has come as a timely succour to many an Australian wound. In fact, his tally of 3988 runs puts him just behind Allan Knott (4,389 runs in 95 Tests) in the list of top run-getters among wicket-keeper.

A quintessential Australian, who is game for a verbal `chat' in the middle with the opposition, it was the 1993 Ashes series which brought out the best in the combative man. He scored his maiden Test century against the old enemy England when he hit 102 not out in the opening Test -- a series in which he also had two other important knocks of 80 and 83.

Healy has also done pretty well in the condensed version of the game with a strike rate of run a ball. However, he has not only lost his place in a revamped Australian One-day side but also the vice-captaincy of the Test team.

The Australian's place is assured in the pantheons of the greats by scaling a new high. Forsure, it will take some effort for any modern day wicket-keeper to get close on `Heals'.