AUSTRALIA’S first-choice wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, will make his long-awaited comeback when he captains the New South Wales Second XI on Monday.
Haddin has been sidelined by a tendon injury in his elbow and he has not played since the final of the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies in May.
During that time, Tim Paine had taken over behind the stumps for Australia in all three formats and made an impressive start to his Test career against Pakistan in England.
Paine is set to take his Test tally to four matches when he steps out in Mohali and Bangalore in the ongoing tour of India.
Haddin was originally selected for Australia’s tour of England, before pulling out due to the elbow problem.
He had been hopeful of being fit for the series against India but is now expected to make his Test comeback for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in late November.
Haddin, 32, said during his lay-off that he wanted to continue playing all three forms of the game for the time being but in the future he might consider stepping back from the shorter formats to focus on Test cricket.
His immediate return will come in a four-day match against the Victorian Second XI at Sydney’s Blacktown Olympic Park starting on Monday.