The longer Brad Haddin’s rest from Australia’s cricket team continues, the more it’s taking on a look of being permanent.

Haddin was omitted by selectors for Australia’s 14-man squad to play ODIs against Sri Lanka and India on Friday and Sunday, after having been initially left out of the squad for the first three matches of this summer’s triangular series.

While selectors at the time insisted the NSW wicketkeeper was merely being rested, the man himself said he’d been dropped and with his replacement Matthew Wade making a solid start to his one-day career Haddin’s exile could carry on for a while longer.

The 34-year-old now has limited opportunities to find good form ahead of next month’s tour of the Caribbean, starting with a Sheffield Shield match for the Blues against Western Australia later this week.

More than likely both keepers will be heading on the tour but if Wade continues to shine it will give him a strong case to replace Haddin at Test level unless the incumbent shakes off his indifferent form.

And former Test captain Steve Waugh says a clarification on Haddin’s status needs to come from selectors.

“If he’s rested, why doesn’t he come back in and be the captain?,” Waugh told reporters, after Ricky Ponting was given the captaincy for Friday’s match against Sri Lanka at the SCG with Michael Clarke out injured.

“He’s the vice captain of the Test side, so there was the opportunity for maybe Brad to captain the one-day team.

“Obviously, he’s having an enforced rest … I’m not sure what it is, but it’s a bit confusing and it would be good for someone to clear it up.”