Haddin to captain Australia if Michael Clarke is ruled out

Brad Haddin will replace Michael Clarke as Australia’s captain in the upcoming Test series against Pakistan if the injured incumbent is unable to play.

Clarke has already been ruled out of Australia’s one-day international series starting on October 6 in the United Arab Emirates after scans revealed tendon damage around the injured hamstring he aggravated during the recent tri-series in Zimbabwe.

Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris is hopeful the 33-year-old batsman will be available for the Tests in the UAE, but a decision won’t be made until closer to the series opener on October 22.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann on Wednesday confirmed wicketkeeper Haddin will lead the team should Clarke remain sidelined.

“We talk about that (a contingency plan) behind the scenes as a selection panel,” Lehmann told cricket.com.au.

“The thing is we want our best player playing. He’s been a fantastic player for us for over 100 Test matches now and we need our No.4 playing and making runs.

“We need him back and he knows that, he’s working really hard behind the scenes at the NCC (National Cricket Centre in Brisbane) with the physios and the doctors to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“All we can do is make sure that when he comes back, he’s right to go.”

Phil Hughes has been called into the ODI squad as the replacement batsman for Clarke.

Hughes was initially left out of the squad for the one-dayers, despite scoring two half-centuries in four matches in Zimbabwe.

He was, however, scheduled to travel to the UAE earlier than the rest of the Test squad to work on his batting technique against spin bowling with coaching consultant Muthiah Muralitharan.