Five wicketkeepers around the country are clamouring for a cherished Test call-up with growing doubts over veteran Brad Haddin’s availability to play India.
Haddin’s gradual recovery from a shoulder injury has resulted in the 37-year-old gloveman being ruled out of the rest of Australia’s five-match one-day series against South Africa.
He badly injured his A-C joint while wicketkeeping in Australia’s 2-0 series loss to Pakistan in the UAE and is now racing the clock to be fit for the four-Test series against India starting on December 4 at the Gabba.
Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Australia’s medical team remained hopeful Haddin would still recover in time for the first Test.
“He has improved and responded to treatment since returning from the UAE but has not recovered sufficiently to return to training and therefore he has been declared unfit for the remainder of ODI series against South Africa,” said Kountouris.
The fifth and final one-dayer is scheduled for November 23, leaving Haddin touch and go for a Test return.
The vice-captain’s Test unavailability would create an awkward dilemma for Australia’s selection panel as they weigh up the different strengths and advantages of several candidates.
With Haddin coming towards the end of his career, and the Ashes defence just around the corner, the selectors could easily select a short or long-term replacement.
Current Australia one-day `keeper Matthew Wade, NSW’s Peter Nevill and in-form Queensland stalwart Chris Hartley are all strongly in the mix, while WA youngster Sam Whiteman and Tasmania’s Tim Paine are also highly regarded.
Selector Trevor Hohns mentioned all five as contenders last month when the panel chose to rest Haddin from the opening two ODI matches against South Africa and recall 12-Test gloveman Wade in a World Cup audition.
While Wade will be front and centre on the bigger Perth stage against the white ball this weekend, Nevill and Hartley will oppose each other in a Sheffield Shield clash at the Gabba.
Paine, who has struggled to recover from a hand injury since making an impressive Test debut in 2010, will go head-to-head with Whiteman in Hobart.
