Haddin not returning to West Indies

Matthew Wade is expected to make his Test debut against West Indies next month after Cricket Australia confirmed Brad Haddin would not return to the tour. In a statement, Cricket Australia cited "family reasons" for Haddin's decision not to rejoin the squad after he flew home from the Caribbean ahead of the first ODI.

Wade was Australia's first-choice gloveman for the limited-overs portion of the tour but the selector Rod Marsh indicated last week that Haddin remained the No.1 wicketkeeper in the Test side. The following day, Haddin flew home for personal reasons.

"Cricket Australia fully supports Brad's decision to remain in Australia and sends its best wishes to him and his family at this time," the general manager of team performance, Pat Howard, said after Haddin confirmed he would not return to the tour.

The New South Wales wicketkeeper Peter Nevill will remain with the squad for the Test portion of the tour, having flown in to replace Haddin for the one-dayers. But having impressed during over the past two months in the shorter formats, Wade will be the clear first choice for the first Test, which begins on April 7 in Barbados.

While the precise reason for Haddin's decision to remain at home is unclear, it does raise serious doubts over whether his international career will continue. Australia's next Test series is not until the 2012-13 home summer, when they face South Africa, by which time Haddin will be 35 and will no longer be the incumbent in any format.

Meanwhile, Australia's captain Michael Clarke has been ruled fit to join the squad for the Test series after being sidelined from the one-dayers due to a hamstring injury. Clarke will fly out of Sydney on Sunday ahead of the three-Test series.