Friday, June 27, 2008

Haddin flies home due to broken finger

Brad Haddin's finger has continued to cause him problems.

Brad Haddin will return to Australia to continue his recovery from a broken finger, meaning Luke Ronchi will be Australia's wicketkeeper for the remainder of the ODI series against West Indies. Haddin broke the ring finger on his right hand during the first Test last month and despite playing right through the Test series and in the first ODI on Tuesday, the injury is continuing to cause him problems.

Ronchi made his international debut in the Twenty20 match in Barbados and Haddin was confident that a lengthy spell between the Tests and ODIs would give him plenty of time to recover. But the team's physio Justin Steer said Haddin was better off heading home early to help him recover.

"This injury has now got to the point where it is limiting his capabilities as a player," Steer said. "Therefore he is going home to seek appropriate further treatment."

Haddin is immediately flying home from Grenada, where Ronchi will make his one-day international debut in the second ODI. Ronchi originally flew to the Caribbean as cover when Haddin was in doubt for the third Test and stayed on as concerns remained over Haddin's fitness.