Border-Gavaskar Trophy: 2nd Test - Clarke to bat at No.3, Haddin to keep

Among other changes in the Australian side for the 2nd Test, Brad Haddin will return to Test cricket while Michael Clarke will promote himself to number 3 in batting.

Mohali - Australian skipper Michael Clarke will bat at No.3 while Brad Haddin will be keeping wickets against India in the third cricket Test that will resume on Friday after the first day’s play was washed out without a ball being bowled due to heavy rains here on Thursday.

Haddin, who was flown in as replacement for the injured Matthew Wade, will be playing his first Test in more than a year. Haddin was part of the series in the West Indies in January last year but left the tour mid-way due to personal reasons.

The inclusion of Haddin, who will be the most experienced player in the side after Clarke, is one of a host of changes Australia will be making to its playing eleven after four key players were ruled ineligible for selection by Cricket Australia (CA) for disciplinary breaches.

Clarke will also reshuffle the batting order. He will be promoting himself from No.5 to No.3 and will be followed by Phil Hughes and Steve Smith, who has not played a Test since the Ashes in Sydney two years ago.

Hughes was almost certain to be replaced by Khwaja but after the discipline breach, the former has certainly saved his place for the time being.

Australia: David Warner, Ed Cowan, Michael Clarke (captain), Phil Hughes, Steve Smith, Brad Haddin (wicketkeeper), Moises Henriques, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Xavier Doherty, Nathan Lyon. 12th man: Glenn Maxwell.