Veteran wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was recalled to the Australian squad on Wednesday and made vice-captain for their upcoming Ashes tour to England with Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris also making the grade.
Haddin, who has only played one Test in the past 14 months and turns 35 next week, replaces Shane Watson as Michael Clarke’s deputy in a 16-man squad for the five-Test series starting in England in July.
Watson stood down from his role as vice-captain over the weekend to concentrate on improving his batting and bowling following his controversial axing in India last month.
Selector John Inverarity made clear that Haddin was now his first choice wicketkeeper, although Matthew Wade is also in the squad and could play as a specialist batsman.
“In regards to the vice-captaincy, we feel it’s important to have a senior, seasoned player support Michael at this time,” said Inverarity. “When Shane Watson advised of his decision to stand down, the selectors viewed Brad as the exceptional candidate to step into this leadership void.
The squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin (vice-captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Chris Rogers, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Wade, James Faulkner, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Ryan Harris, Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon.a
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