Nevill chosen over Haddin for third Test

Australia's wicketkeeper Brad Haddin may have played his last Test match after being formally advised by the national selectors that they will retain Peter Nevill as gloveman for the third Ashes Test in Birmingham.

Haddin was informed of Nevill's ascension to first-choice by the selection chairman Rod Marsh and the coach Darren Lehmann during the Australians' tour match in Derby. Nevill and Haddin both played in that match, but Haddin took part as a batsman only while the younger man kept wicket for Derbyshire's sole innings.

It is a hard call on Haddin after he made himself unavailable for the Lord's Test when his ill daughter Mia was admitted to a London hospital, but demonstrates the resolve of Marsh and Lehmann to continue regenerating the national team. Given his chance in difficult circumstances, Nevill shone with seven catches and a fluent 45 with the bat, while also showing the ideal temperament for Test matches.

The captain Michael Clarke is not a selector, but said he was consulted by Marsh and Lehmann before the decision was made. Clarke and Haddin have formed a fruitful professional union over the past four years, with Haddin serving as vice-captain for much of that time. Nevertheless, Clarke said he supported the decision to retain Nevill.

"Rod and Boof came and spoke to me and told me what they were thinking," Clarke said. "It's obviously a lot harder for me because I have that attachment to Hadds, I've grown up playing cricket with him, we've spent a lot of time together and I love the fact that he's still here working hard. If an opportunity comes he'll grab it with both hands.

"On the other hand, Nev made the most of his opportunity in the second Test, I thought he batted really well and I thought he kept exceptionally well. So it's a tough one when you sit in the middle, but that's the way the selectors have gone and I respect their decision."

The case for choosing Nevill ahead of Haddin was a strong one. Since his near-mythical displays in the 2013-14 Ashes series, Haddin's returns had been depreciating, and he was a notable struggler during the Cardiff Test. A critical drop of Joe Root on the first morning of the series was to be compounded by a pair of low scores, and a rash shot to be dismissed in the second innings as Australia sank to a 169-run defeat.

Even so, there is room for Haddin to be viewed sympathetically, most pointedly for the fact this is the second time he has found himself out of the team for personal reasons then not chosen by the selectors when he then became available once more. In 2012, Haddin left a West Indies tour to be with Mia and his wife Karina, but then waited another year before returning to the team as the selection panel - at the time including Clarke - preferred the younger Matthew Wade for 10 Tests.

There is also the fact that as an exceptional vice-captain, Haddin never had the chance to lead Australia in a Test match, though he quite easily could have after Clarke was ruled out of the remainder of last summer's Border-Gavaskar series due to a hamstring torn in the Adelaide match. Instead the selectors went with the youthful option of elevating Steven Smith, a decision Haddin supported as one of the 26-year-old's chief mentors.

This time around, Haddin is also in the position of being close to the man who has stepped in front of him. Nevill has been his back-up for New South Wales and Australia, and the pair have a strong relationship. The team have taken the decision well, though there is plenty of sympathy for Haddin's predicament as a senior player nearing the end. The retired Ryan Harris and the dropped Shane Watson have also found themselves out of the team on this tour as the XI is refreshed even in the midst of an Ashes series.

For now, Haddin is taking his new role as Nevill's back-up with equanimity, but he is yet to decide on what shape his future will take. He is also believed to have knocked back the Sydney Sixers coaching job. "He still wants to play that's for sure and he has a great relationship with Nev," Clarke said. "So I think he sees his role over the last couple of days leading up to this Test to hep Nev as much as possible and they are really good friends so there's certainly no lack of respect there.

"Hadds will certainly wish Nev all the best and hope he does well, and if there's an injury or there's another opportunity then I'll know he be ready. I can't be any more complimentary for what he's done for the Australian team, the New South Wales team as a player.

"He's a great man Hadds, he's been an awesome vice captain, I've really loved having him as vice captain and he's performed exceptionally well. He's done himself and his family really proud in the way that he's represented Australia and New South Wales and I hope he keeps playing."