Melbourne, August 24: Australia are bracing themselves for more bad news as Brad Haddin, their senior wicketkeeper, is likely to be ruled out of the one-day series with a broken finger.
Haddin suffered the fracture to his left ring finger moments after the coin toss at Edgbaston, and while ruled out of that match, played the final two Tests at Headingley and The Oval with the assistance of pain-killing injections.
Haddin underwent further scans on Monday morning, after Australia’s 197-run defeat at The Oval, and an announcement on his participation in the one-day series in England is expected this afternoon. Cricinfo understands he is likely to return home to allow the finger time to heal in time for the Champions Trophy and home test series against West Indies and Pakistan.
Graham Manou was drafted in for Haddin for the Test match at Edgbaston, but he too sustained an injury prior to Australia’s two-day warm-up in between the fourth and fifth Test. They subsequently called up an uncapped wicketkeeper, 27-year-old Chris Hartley who had been playing for Chorley Cricket Club in the Northern League near Manchester.
Australia’s begin the one-day series with a match against Scotland on Friday, followed by two Twenty20s against England and a further seven ODIs.
—–Agencies