Haddin ruled out of IPL with finger injury

Brad Haddin, the Australia and Kolkata Knight Riders wicketkeeper, has been ruled out of the rest of the IPL with a fractured finger. He has been replaced by South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who was part of the IPL commentary team this season and represented Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first three editions.

"Boucher can open, he can play in the middle order, and he plays spin very well," Venky Mysore, the CEO of the franchise, told ESPNcricinfo. Boucher last played for South Africa in a limited-overs game in June 2010, as AB de Villiers emerged as a preferred wicketkeeper-batsman.

Haddin had picked up the injury during Australia's recent one-day series in Bangladesh, and though he played one IPL game after that tour, an MRI on Thursday revealed that his finger hadn't yet healed.

Kolkata have used three different wicketkeepers in the tournament already, all of whom have opened the batting. Manvinder Bisla played five games as an opener, while Shreevats Goswami was drafted in for the game against Delhi Daredevils.

Haddin came into the IPL in good form, having been Australia's highest run-getter in the World Cup.