Luke Ronchi will join the Australian squad as a shadow player for fellow wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Luke Ronchi, the Western Australia wicketkeeper, will fly to the West Indies as a shadow player for Brad Haddin, who is recuperating from a broken finger. Haddin injured the ring finger of his right hand during the first Test in Kingston and carried the problem through the second Test in Antigua, and although he has since then received treatment for the pain it has had limited success.
Haddin is now in serious doubt for the third Test, which starts in Barbados on Thursday. Australia had only one Test wicketkeeper for eight years until January - Adam Gilchrist did not miss a match during his career - and now there is the prospect of them using three Test glovemen within the space of four matches.
Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said it was still uncertain how quickly Haddin would recover. "The need for Luke to remain with the squad will be decided as Haddin's fitness becomes clearer," Hilditch said.
"Luke has had a very strong season in all forms of inter-state cricket and performed very well on the Australia A team's tour at the start of the 2007-08 season. He is ready for any opportunity that may present itself and will benefit greatly from his time in the Australian environment in the West Indies."
Ronchi, 27, was impressive during Australia A's tour to Pakistan in September last year, and scored 107 in a four-day match against Pakistan A in Lahore. He was also consistent during the Pura Cup, scoring 444 runs from eight matches at 40.36. His profile increased when he was signed by the Mumbai Indians IPL franchise on a three-year deal but he could not fire in the inaugural edition of the Twenty20 tournament, making only 34 runs in four matches.
While Haddin remains in doubt Simon Katich is set to play in Barbados after sitting out much of the Antigua match with a bruised rib. Katich was struck by a Daren Powell bouncer while making 113 in the first innings and did not bat in the second innings, also remaining off the field for most of the time while West Indies batted.
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