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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Ponting, Hayden criticise selectors for axing Haddin from 3rd Ashes Test

Ponting, Hayden criticise selectors for axing Haddin from 3rd Ashes Test

July 29, 2015 10:46 IST
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'He is a good gloveman, can be an important batsman and he keeps the team on its toes in the field'

'He is a broken finger away from recall so this may not be the end for him, but I suspect we won't see him again and I am a little concerned that the team may miss him more than they expect. I hope I am wrong'

'It doesn't say much for the family-first policy if Brad puts his family first and all of a sudden he's out. Sometimes the heart has to play a part in selection'

Brad Haddin

Australia's Brad Haddin during training at 3aaa County Ground, Derby on Monday. Photogrqph: Craig Brough/Action Images via Reuters

Former captain Ricky Ponting believes Australia were wrong to leave wicketkeeper Brad Haddin out of the team for the third Ashes Test and says they will miss his experience when it starts at Edgebaston later on Wednesday.

Ponting's successor Michael Clarke confirmed on Tuesday selectors had decided to retain Peter Nevill as gloveman after Haddin missed the second Test to be at his sick daughter's side in hospital.

Like many, Ponting believes the 37-year-old may have played his 66th and final Test in the defeat to England in Cardiff which opened the series.

"Hadds has been the heart and soul of the team since taking over from Adam Gilchrist," Ponting wrote in a column in The Australian on Wednesday.

"He is a good gloveman, can be an important batsman and he keeps the team on its toes in the field.

"He is a hard man and renowned for a bit of chirp but if you look closely the last couple of years he generally has a smile on his face. He loves the game.

 Peter Nevill and Brad Haddin of Australia train during a nets session

Peter Nevill and Brad Haddin of Australia train during a nets session. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

"He is a broken finger away from recall so this may not be the end for him, but I suspect we won't see him again and I am a little concerned that the team may miss him more than they expect. I hope I am wrong."

Ponting, while conceding that Nevill was a "good keeper" who "looked tidy" on debut at Lord's without being "exceptional", said Haddin's contribution with the bat in the 5-0 sweep of England in the 2013-14 Ashes series showed his importance.

"Brad's batting has been critical to the team on many occasions but none more so than in the last Ashes. He scored 493 runs at an average of 62 and was just behind David Warner who scored 523 from two more innings," Ponting added.

"It is in a series like that that his experience and value to the team came through. In the hard moments Brad always seemed to dig in. It is hard to remember him not batting in that series as he was involved in so many important partnerships."

While Ponting was "disappointed" by a decision that did not "sit right" with him, another Australian Test great Matthew Hayden was more forthright in his condemnation.

Brad Haddin

Brad Haddin of Australia fields. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

"After the hell he's gone through, it is outrageous that Brad Haddin hasn't gotten his spot back for the third Ashes Test," the former Test opener wrote in a column on news.com.au.

"It doesn't say much for the family-first policy if Brad puts his family first and all of a sudden he's out. Sometimes the heart has to play a part in selection.

"Before this happened there was speculation about Brad’s form. Brad would know that. But he’d only had one Test in this series. Unless the selectors were thinking they made a bad call, that they should have picked Nevill first -- but then why was Brad on tour? He’s got the talent and the ability.

"It’s no different to Michael Clarke, who is also being questioned over his form. You’ve got to have a balance of players who have been there and done it before under pressure. We’ve got a nice balance at the moment. When the time comes Brad will put his hand up and say my heart’s not in it anymore or my form is letting the team down. But it’s not this Test match. It’s not in the middle of a Test series. I don’t think that’s right,” Hayden wrote.

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