Selectors ushered in a new era by picking Matthew Wade as Australia’s wicketkeeper rather than 35-year-old Brad Haddin for the first Test against South Africa in Brisbane starting on November 9.
Australia’s 12-man squad named on Monday includes a top-six batting line-up as expected, with the modestly-performed Ed Cowan to open with David Warner, Shane Watson at No.3 and 165-Test veteran Ricky Ponting at No.4 followed by skipper Michael Clarke and Ponting’s fellow 37-year-old Mike Hussey.
The 43-Test veteran Haddin’s last appearance in the baggy green was against India in Adelaide in January before missing the three Tests of the West Indies tour in April for family reasons.
Wade, 24, made his Test debut in his absence and posted a century in the third Test in Dominica – the only ton by an Australia player in the series.
Clarke said the wicketkeeping decision was always going to be a tough one but he felt Wade deserved to retain his spot after “grabbing his opportunity with both hands” in the Caribbean.
“For the team, whichever way we went, the team was always going to be fine because we’re very lucky in this country to have two fantastic keepers,” he said.
“But the decision is Matthew Wade and I know he’ll do a fantastic job.
“He’s been a wonderful player for Australia so far in his brief career. He scored a hundred in his last Test and he deserves this opportunity.”
While it’s widely seen as the end of Haddin’s international career, national selector John Inverarity insisted he remained “a player of significant interest” and the door was open for his return should Wade be injured.
While Australia desperately need their tail to wag led by Wade at No.7, they will have gained some confidence about Ponting’s ability to perform against the Proteas following his stunning form with Tasmania at Sheffield Shield level.
Ponting has scored 350 runs at an average of 125.00 in three matches and has hit 162 not out, 60 not out and 85 not out in his last three hits at first-class level.
South Africa’s pace attack spearheaded by Dale Steyn toyed with Ponting in November 2011 as Test cricket’s second-leading run-scorer scored just 70 runs at 17.50 in the two-Test series.
However the ex-skipper says he’s confident he’s worked through the technical glitch in his game that made him prone to lbw dismissals.
Inverarity’s panel of five selectors, which includes skipper Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur, are believed to be considering an all-pace attack if the Gabba shows signs of being a green-top pitch.
Spinner Nathan Lyon was included in the squad with pace bowlers Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc.
Inverarity hoped exciting young quick Pat Cummins would be “on the radar” for the third Test at the WACA as he continued his first-class comeback from a long-term foot injury.
“We didn’t feel as though Pat Cummins was ready to play in a Test match,” Inverarity said.
Starc was named overnight as man of the series after helping the Haddin-led Sydney Sixers win the final of the Champions League Twenty20 against South Africa’s Highveld Lions in Johannesburg.
Pattinson secured his place in the Test squad after taking 2-29 and 6-32 in Victoria’s 10-wicket win over Queensland at the Gabba earlier this month.
Australian squad: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Ben Hilfenhaus (12th man to be named).