Australia confirm Brad Haddin will miss Lord's Test for family reasons
Wednesday 15 July 2015 07:53, UK
Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will miss the second Ashes Test for personal reasons, the tourists have confirmed.
The 37-year-old did not train in the nets with the rest of his team-mates on Tuesday and was instead spotted speaking with coach Darren Lehmann and team psychologist Michael Lloyd after a short warm-up.
Reports originated earlier on Tuesday Down Under claiming reserve 'keeper Peter Nevill would start at Lord's, and the same reports said Haddin had neither been dropped nor decided to retire.
Cricket Australia confirmed on Tuesday evening that Nevill would be stepping in and that Haddin would miss out for "family reasons", adding that he would not be flying home and was only ruled out for the second Test.
The veteran wicketkeeper's position has been under scrutiny since he dropped Joe Root during the first Test when the England batsman was yet to score a run in the first innings.
Haddin, who has averaged just 15.23 since playing a key role in Australia's 2013/14 Ashes whitewash, also failed twice with the bat at Cardiff.
Before Haddin's absence from the match was confirmed, fast-medium bowler Siddle said Nevill would be ready to take his Test chance if selected at Lord's.
The Ashes - Live
"He's played well in the opportunities he's had," Siddle said. "His record back home speaks for itself.
"He's had a couple of great years in first-class cricket. I played a lot with him as a youngster, being a Victorian boy. He moved away (to New South Wales) to get an opportunity and he obviously has taken that.
"No doubt if it's this Test or down in the future, he gets his opportunity, I've got no doubt he will be ready to go."
Before Australia's warm-up match at Essex last month, the 29-year-old Nevill, who has a first-class batting average in excess of 44, said: "I can always learn a lot from Hadds, but this tour I've got to prepare to play.
"I need to be on top of my game and ready to go should that opportunity arise."
Nevill also said he would call upon the vast knowledge of on-tour selector Rodney Marsh, one of Australia's greatest wicketkeepers and someone who made his first Test tour of England 43 years ago.
"I'm sure he's gong to have plenty of feedback for me," Nevill said of Marsh. "He had a wonderful career as a wicketkeeper-batsman for Australia, so he's definitely a great resource.
"I'll be making sure I sidle up to him and have a good chat about those things," he added.
The introduction of Nevill may not be the only change made by Australia with reports down under suggesting that Mitchell Marsh will come into the side in place of all-rounder Shane Watson.
Watch The Ashes live on Sky Sports, with continued coverage of the series on Sky Sports Ashes HD. You can watch individual days with a NOW TV Sports Day Pass, while our Ashes Events Centre - the best of Sky Cricket's analysis at your fingertips - is available on our iPad app.
