Thaindian News

Sydney, Oct. 26 (ANI): Australian wicket keeping great Rod Marsh has reportedly questioned the National Selection panel’s (NSP) decision to omit performing Tasmanian wicket-keeper for the national Twenty20 squad that is to face Sri Lanka this weekend.

Marsh has questioned whether Brad Haddin, who remains the country’s premier gloveman, deserved an automatic recall to the Australian side for Sunday’s Twenty20 clash with Sri Lanka in Perth, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The selectors, however, have wasted no time in welcoming Haddin and Victorian pacer Peter Siddle back to the national set-up after lengthy lay-offs, naming the pair in a 12-man squad for the start of the Australian international season.

Haddin missed tours of England and India due to an elbow injury, and has not played for Australia since the World Twenty20 final in May.

Paine, with a pair of half-centuries in the recently completed two-Test series against India, has since performed with such distinction.

However, yesterday’s announcement was proof the position remained Haddin’s to lose rather than Paine’s to gain.

‘It is unfortunate for Tim Paine, having played so well for Australia recently, to miss out on this squad but Brad has made a very good recovery from his elbow injury, and is an established member of our side in all forms of the game,” chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said.

Haddin, who turned 33 three days ago, has worked his way through the grades since making his comeback to competitive cricket at the start of the month in the New South Wales Second XI. He rubber-stamped his recall with a breezy 56 off 63 balls for the Blues in the National One-Day Cup last Friday.

Siddle broke down with stress fractures in his back last summer but has made an encouraging return with Victoria this season, playing in all three forms of the game.

‘Peter is a key bowler in all forms of the game, and has made a return from injury, and is now ready to take his place in this Australia Twenty20 squad,’ Hilditch said. (ANI)