Veteran wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is Australia’s new vice-captain for the 2013 Ashes tour to England.

Despite only playing one Test in the past 14 months, and turning 35 next week, Haddin has replaced Shane Watson as Michael Clarke’s deputy in a 16-man squad named on Wednesday for the five-Test series starting in July.

The national selection panel announced the appointment on Wednesday morning in a decision which puts young incumbent wicketkeeper Matthew Wade’s Test position in grave doubt.

Evergreen Victorian opener Chris Rogers, 35, is the bolter in the squad, five years after he played his one and only Test against India.

The selectors also included Tasmanian bowling allrounder James Faulkner among a six-man pace battery which features comeback player Ryan Harris.

The selection of Harris, who only returned from shoulder surgery a couple of months ago, and Faulkner’s late-season domestic form meant Mitchell Johnson was jettisoned after being part of the squad which lost 4-0 to India in the sub-continent last month.

The bowling attack will also include Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird and left-armer Mitchell Starc.

Allrounders Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith also paid the price for the Indian whitewash as they were omitted.

Chief selector John Inverarity said Watson would tour as a batting allrounder.