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Haddin to miss Australia's tour to India
Injured wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will miss Australia's two-test series in India next month after being left out of a 15-man tour squad named on Thursday.
Haddin has an elbow injury and will stay behind to rehabilitate ahead of the home Ashes test series against England later this year, officials said.
"Brad is making good progress with rehabilitation of his elbow tendon injury," team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a Cricket Australia statement.
"He is due to commence restricted batting in the next few weeks but he will not be available to play in the test component of Australia’s tour of India.
"He is on track to be available for club cricket and for New South Wales with the possibility of being available for selection in the India or Sri Lanka one-day international series."
Haddin, who will be replaced in India by two-test Tasmanian gloveman Tim Paine, may return for the three-match limited over matches following tests in Mohali and Bangalore.
"We don't see any issues as far as the Ashes," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said of Haddin.
Opening batsman Phillip Hughes returns to the Australian squad from a dislocated shoulder, while young fast bowlers, Peter George and Josh Hazlewood, get their chance.
"We're really confident if there's an opportunity at the top of the order Phil will play it really well," Hilditch said.
"And I know Phil is also keen to be able to bat down the order and be able to be pretty versatile."
Hazlewood, George and Hughes, are aged 21 or under.
MOST DAUNTING TASK
"It's probably one of the youngest squads we have ever picked really," Hilditch said.
"All these exciting young players have the potential to have a big impact in international cricket for many years and the selection panel is confident they will all equip themselves well if the opportunity presents itself on this tour.
"Everything we have probably done since the (2009) Ashes defeat has been a pointer to the Ashes, this is no different.
"But having said that we do treat the Indian Test series as totally unique to the Ashes.
"It's probably the most daunting task a Test team can face at the moment, India is the number one side in the world and they're a very hard side to beat at home."
Hilditch confirmed Marcus North will stay in the number six batting spot, saying the 31-year-old left-hander was "part of long term plans".
And he expected sidelined fast bowlers Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris to overcome injuries and be fit for the Ashes.
Australia will take two recognised spinners, offspinner Nathan Hauritz and legspinner Steven Smith, to India.
As the first one-day international of the Indian tour is not scheduled until October 17, Hilditch said the selection panel will monitor the fitness of injured players before making a decision on the squad for the one-day series.
Australia play India in tests in Mohali (October 1-5) and Bangalore (October 9-13).
Australia -- Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke
(vice-captain), Doug Bollinger, Peter George, Nathan Hauritz, Josh
Hazlewood, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell
Johnson, Simon Katich, Marcus North, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Shane
Watson.
