Australian selectors will consider picking former Test keeper Brad Haddin as a specialist batsman if captain Michael Clarke’s injury rules him out of matches in Melbourne or Sydney.
The 35-year-old, who has controversially been overlooked for Matthew Wade this summer, could be thrown a lifeline if Clarke’s hamstring problem stops him playing either of the remaining Tests against Sri Lanka from Boxing Day.
Haddin has averaged 67.40 in the Sheffield Shield for NSW this season and former captain Steve Waugh recently suggested he should be considered for a batsman-only role.
“We’ll discuss that tonight,” Australian coach Mickey Arthur said.
“That batter, whoever it is, would have to be part of our extended squad. There’s possibilities.
“Haddin’s one of them, (Rob) Quiney’s one of them and certainly Usman Khawaja’s very much in the frame.
“Alex Doolan has played well.”
Australia will no doubt try to everything they can to get Clarke onto the MCG in a week’s time but, if he is prescribed a rest period, vice-captain Shane Watson will almost certainly take over as skipper.
Former Test No.3 Khawaja has thrived playing for his new state Queensland with a brilliant century on a tough Hobart pitch and three 50s in Shield cricket so far.
Bulls coach Darren Lehmann believes Khawaja has addressed selectors’ concerns about his sharpness at the crease and in the field.
Tasmania’s Doolan made 161 not out for Australia A against South Africa, while Quiney would be getting a second chance after he made just nine runs in his two matches against the Proteas.
Injuries have decimated what had been a deep pool of fast bowlers, with Hilfenhaus one of seven pacemen who could have been considered.
Selectors are likely to turn to 12th man for Hobart Mitchell Johnson, whose return in Perth after a 12-month absence was encouraging.
Tasmania’s Jackson Bird sits atop the leading wicket-takers list for the second straight season and will be considered as back-up along with West Australian Nathan Coulter-Nile.
“All I can say is we’ve had a list of bowlers leading into our summer, and we’re well down the list at the moment,” Arthur said.
“The names that have been on everyone’s lips are a guy like Jackson Bird, it could be Nathan Coulter-Nile, and that will form part of the discussions.”
Complicating matters is a lack of first class cricket while the Big Bash League is completed.
The Sheffield Shield season was suspended at the end of November and the next match won’t begin until the end of January.
Bearfax
Guest
Fortunately sanity prevailed. Haddin for a test batsman. There must be either some heavy Haddin supporters out there amongst the journos, or the news items were getting a little stale. Even listened to David Hussey suggesting Quiney for Ponting and McKay for Hilly. I think David Hussey is a fine batsman and wouldnt have minded him being picked but his selection ability is off with the fairies. Khawaja and Bird. Sensible selections for a change
Red Kev
Guest
/dance Considering the choice (for Ponting's replacement) was between Hughes and Khawaja that is sensible from the NSP. However I am sure everyone (myself included) would prefer Clarke to recover and play.
Brett McKay
Expert
Kev, hope you see this mate.. (from Twitter just now) @FOXSportsNews: @Uz_Khawaja pulled from @ThunderBBL's upcoming match and expected to replace Michael Clarke for Boxing Day Test
Disco
Roar Guru
Did you watch Haddin's keeping last summer?
formeropenside
Guest
and before that, Richie Robinson was a makeshift opener on the 1977 Ashes Tour, with Rod Marsh batting 7. It was a largely unsuccessful experiment.
Justin
Guest
Wade isn't going anywhere fellas, he's 24, he's got so much cricket ahead of him, his keeping to fast bowlers is very good, his keeping to spinners needs work, but it will get better as he is still young, he actually kept quite well in the West Indies to Nathan Lyon, but so far this summer his keeping to spin has been pretty average, but it can only get better, to go back to Haddin or Hartley or Paine would be a mistake, they are all older by at least 4 years than Wade and dont have as much improvement in them, plus there is Wade's batting as well, he has a great solid technique and I honestly think he could bat as high as 4 if he wasn't keeping, he's made 2 half centuries in 2 tests and for those that haven't seen his maiden test ton against all odds watch it, because Haddin never played a knock like that for the nation, all his centuries were junk time https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_912UBvJYI
Jason
Guest
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Jason
Guest
Does anyone remember that the selectors prematurely ended Katich's test career because they wanted younger players in the side and were building for the future. How's that looking now?
David Heidelberg
Guest
The only problem with that is that Haddin is still a far better keeer than Wade. Haing addin stand in the fid while Wade fumbles away behind the stumps would be silly and putting the gloves on HAddin would meanade selected as a batsmn and he isn't good enough. It won't happen because it woul mean the selectors admitting they were wrong.
matt h
Guest
Avoiding the queston - just like poor old Rob Quiney getting sacrificed so Hughes could have an easier trip back into the side. How must he have felt knowing that? No wonder he failed. Haddin is in form, but we might as well ask Punter back if we are going for the pensioners, or even give David Hussey a test for his resume. Or bring back the Kat - he's a better captain. Is Brad Hodge still alive? Steve Waugh still looks fit! It's ridiculous really. I admire a lot of these guys but their time has past. We are not selecting a team for the Masters Games. Pick Khawaja. Every extra test he gets is more experience. Otherwise if you are desperate for leadership qualities what about the other wicket keeper who could play as a batsman. Pick Time "future Australian captain" Paine. Actually if they did that I would have Paine keep and leave Wade in the field. Apart from that they could do worse than George Bailey. He's already the T20 non-playing captain and he's probably more suited to the long form anyway.
Dan
Guest
If they pick anyone but uzzy khawaja its a joke -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
jamesb
Guest
ODIs you might get away with, tests a little different.
Johnno
Guest
jamesb Adam Gilchrist played as a batsmen in ODI cricket at times, with Healy haveing the gloves.
jamesb
Guest
I still remember Haddins wonderful shot in Australias score of 47. Bit strange to have two wicketkeepers in the line up.
Red Kev
Guest
It makes no sense at all, the selectors need to get over their fear of picking anyone under 30. Haddin has shown he doesn't have the mental toughness at test level in recent times, making very poor decisions in times when the team needed him. Calling back a former vice-captain who's also a former wicket-keeper as a specialist batsmen is ridiculous. It makes the selections of Michael Beer and Rob Quiney look positively inspired by comparison. Haddin's scores are also not that impressive, his hundreds have come in drawn matches with high scores, his only innings in a pressure situation is 33 in an almost blown run-chase of 98 against Queensland. The primary job of a batsman is to score runs. Watson misses 50% of the test matches played and we're about to tour India and England - Haddin is not the answer, his recall would be avoiding the question.
Johnno
Guest
It makes sense. Haddin is vastly more experienced, than Kawaja, or Alex Doolan, or Quiney, and Haddin's on field leadership will be invaluable to Shane Watson in his 1st test as captain, Haddin has had leadership experience too i think he has been vice captain before for OZ, and I think he has captained NSW before.