Injured Haddin could be out of Ashes series

WARWICKSHIRE - Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is likely to miss the rest of the Ashes series after he broke his finger just before the third Test got underway here on Thursday.

In dramatic scenes after the toss, England captain Andrew Strauss had to grant permission for Graham Manou to play when Haddin broke his finger at the last minute during the Edgbaston warm-ups.

Strauss granted Australia’s request despite Australia having already named Haddin on its team sheet at the toss.

“He was catching the fast bowlers at the end of the warm up,” The Australian quoted coach Tim Nielsen, as saying.

“Knowing we were batting, he stayed out to catch a few extra balls, one dipped a bit and hit him on the end of the left ring finger. When the doc had a look, it was unstable, a real risk that if he played it was broken worse,” he added.

“We’d have to be careful looking at the fourth Test (at Leeds), but we don’t know.”

Despite being in agony, Haddin was reluctant to give up his Test spot.

“He was pretty keen to play,” Nielsen said.

Australia is now thankful it made a last-minute decision to expand its Ashes squad and include Manou as the 16th man.

His inclusion in the side came so quickly that the South Australian did not even have time to be presented with his baggy green cap in a traditional ceremony before play.

After play, Nielsen thanked Strauss for allowing Manou to play and said Australia would have made a similar gesture if the roles were reversed. (ANI)