Nevill to be Australia´s keeper in third Test
July 28, 2015
Nevill impressed on his international debut with seven catches and a breezy 45 in his lone innings as Australia thrashed England by 405 runs to win the second Test at Lord´s and level the five-match series at 1-1.
Haddin missed that match for "family reasons", sparking a debate as to whether he or Nevill -- his deputy at New South Wales -- would be behind the stumps at Edgbaston when the third Test starts on Wednesday.
But that Nevill would keep his place appeared all the more likely when he was behind the stumps for the whole of Derbyshire´s lone innings in their drawn tour match with Australia last week -- a match where Haddin was in the outfield.
And with Haddin, who retired from one-day international cricket after helping Australia win the World Cup this year, turning 38 in October it appears that the 29-year-old Nevill now has the chance to make the position his own.
The decision was made by on-tour selector Rodney Marsh, one of Australia´s greatest wicketkeepers, and coach Darren Lehmann.
"Rod and Boof (Lehmann) 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," added New South Wales batsman Clarke.
"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 66-times capped Haddin now finds himself in the role of reserve keeper -- a position he occupied a decade ago when serving as understudy to Adam Gilchrist on his first Ashes tour in 2005.
Haddin has been Nevill´s mentor since the younger gloveman left Victoria for New South Wales in 2008. (AFP)
