Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland says Brad Haddin is out of the national set-up due to poor form and is disappointed over the confusion surrounding his status.

Sutherland says Haddin has always been aware of the situation and has had regular dialogue with selectors and public confusion over whether the wicketkeeper had been rested or axed was regrettable.

“We’re not comfortable with the level of uncertainty and public discussion on this particular matter,” Sutherland told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

“The really important thing though for us, and the real focus in recent times … has been to the players and perhaps that area of improving that for the public’s benefit just needs to be touched up on as well.”

Sutherland was at pains to not actually criticise the national selectors over the confusion, saying it had been more of a problem in the communication process than anything else.

He said the public deserved to know why certain selection decisions were being taken and hoped the situation would be avoided in the future.

“Looking back on it, something clearly has gone awry there and that’s something we need to be clearer on,” he said.

“If there are things that need to be made clearer in the public place and they’re not then they’re things we need to improve.

“We owe that to cricket fans and the country.”