Matthew Hayden represented Australia for close to 15 years © Getty Images
Matthew Hayden represented Australia for close to 15 years © Getty Images

Former Australia batsman Matthew Hayden has criticised his country’s selectors’ decision to sideline Brad Haddin for the third Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston. Peter Nevill was retained as Australia’s wicketkeeper ahead of Brad Haddin in the third Ashes Test against England after the former performed brilliantly in the series-levelling Lord’s Test victory. Earlier, Haddin had asked to be stood down for the second Test in order to be with his sick daughter. Describing the decision to omit the veteran wicketkeeper as ‘outrageous’, Hayden said that the 37-year-old was in no position to play cricket at Lord’s because of his personal issues, the Guardian reported. READ: Brad Haddin dropped from 3rd Ashes 2015 Test squad due to bad form, admits Rod Marsh

Hayden also opined it didn’t say much for the family-first policy if Haddin puts his family first and all of a sudden found himself out of the team. He said that sometimes the heart has to play a part in selection. The selection of Nevill comes after he performed reasonably well on his Test debut at Lord’s, where he scored 45. Haddin, however has been gracious in his axe as he was helping Nevill out at the training. Haddin, is set to retire after the five Ashes Tests after serving Australia for seven years. READ: Ashes 2015, 3rd Test at Edgbaston: Ricky Ponting terms axing of Brad Haddin as ‘mistake’

Hayden had represented Australia in 103 Tests and scored 8625 runs at an average of over 50. His highest score of 380 came against Zimbabwe. READ: Michael Clarke confirms selectors’ decision to drop Brad Haddin for 3rd Ashes 2015 Test at Edgbaston