Rogers not drawn on Haddin non-selection

Chris Rogers says there’s a time and a place to discuss the national selectors’ tough call on Brad Haddin.

And day one of the third Ashes Test, which Haddin was left on the sidelines for, isn’t it.

“I don’t really want to talk about that. That’s something for the selection panel,” Rogers said on Wednesday.

“Maybe at the end of the series I can think about that.

“But at the moment I don’t really want to talk about that.”

Players are reportedly unhappy with Rod Marsh and Darren Lehmann’s decision to keep Peter Nevill in the side ahead of Haddin at Edgbaston.

Haddin was set to play the second Test at Lord’s but withdrew for family reasons.

The 37-year-old missed the game to spend time with his sick daughter in a London hospital.

Nevill scored 45 and snared seven catches at Lord’s, convincing selectors he should stay in the XI ahead of Haddin.

It is likely to be the end of Haddin’s international career.

Plenty of former players have lashed the timing and circumstances of the baton passing, saying it goes against the ‘family first’ edict of the team.

Ian Healy, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Shane Warne all questioned the decision, with Hayden calling it “outrageous”.

“I just thought it’d be automatic he’d play this Test,” Warne told Sky Sports.

“It’s not the right message they’re sending to younger players in that situation.”

Chairman of selectors Marsh defended the call, saying Haddin’s form meant Australia had no option but to keep Nevill in the XI.

“Amazingly hard call,” Marsh said on Wednesday.

“He’s a fantastic player with a fantastic attitude but he’s averaging 15 in his last 12 Test matches.

“We needed runs down there.”

Haddin also dropped a crucial catch in the first Test, offering Joe Root a reprieve on zero.

Root went on to score 134, steering England to a 169-run win.

“He didn’t keep well and he’ll admit that at Cardiff,” Marsh said.

“The new boy did very, very well at Lord’s.

“Nevill had such a good game.

“So in my way of thinking, we didn’t have an option.

“It’s very hard to change a winning side.”

Haddin consistently rescued Australia with the bat in the 2013-14 Ashes, scoring 493 runs to break the record for most runs by a No.7 batsman in any Test series.

However, since that series Haddin has averaged 15.23 and managed only one half-century in 12 Tests.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!