BRAD Haddin remains skipper Michael Clarke’s first choice as Test wicketkeeper despite missing Australia’s tour of the West Indies. Haddin, 34, flew home from the Caribbean last month for family reasons and announced he would not rejoin the tour, with Matthew Wade handed the job behind the stumps. “In my opinion Brad will come back into the Test when fully fit and available,” Clarke said ahead of the third Test which got under way in Dominica yesterday. Wade has scored 88 runs in his first two Tests – not enough to win a permanent Test spot according to Clarke.
He added: “That’s certainly nothing against Wadey. He learned a lot during the one-day series through facing spin in completely different conditions to what he was used to back in Australia. He will continue to get better – that’s for sure. Having the likes of Steve Rixon, Rod Marsh and also Brad Haddin around, when we can, will certainly help him.”
Dominica is an unfamiliar venue for the Australia players, with none of them having played at Windsor Park before.
The Australia selectors are still deciding whether to retain second spinner Michael Beer or play left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc.
Beer bowled well during the drawn second Test in Trinidad but is expected only to hold his position if the Windsor Park pitch favours spin, unlikely with showers forecast throughout the match.
Australia, with a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, have already retained the Frank Worrell Trophy but Clarke wants his first West Indies tour as captain to end in victory.
“It’s been a really long summer for the Australian team and we would like to finish on a high. It’s a really important series for us,” Clarke said. (PA Sport)