ADAM Gilchrist will not play in the final Chappell-Hadlee Trophy clash against New Zealand on Thursday as Australia selectors try to limit his workload in the lead-up to the Test series against India.
The decision opens the door for Blues wicketkeeper Brad Haddin to take over the duties behind the stumps in Hobart.
Australia lead the Chappell-Hadlee series 1-0, but New Zealand can retain the trophy they won earlier in the year by winning the final game after Sunday’s second match in Sydney was washed out.
Selectors are determined to ‘suitably manage’ Gilchrist’s workload as Australia prepare to enter a particularly busy time on both their Test and one-day schedules.
Not only do they have a four-Test series against India coming up and the subsequent one-day series against India and Sri Lanka, but also tours to Pakistan in February and West Indies, starting in May.
The 36-year-old Gilchrist will not travel to Hobart with the squad and selectors have confirmed that no extra players will be called up for the game.
National selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said it had always been the intention to rest Gilchrist for the Hobart game.
"It was always the selection panel’s intention for Adam to play in the Twenty20 International and the opening two matches of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy regardless of results," he said.
"It’s important that Adam’s workload is suitably managed. This strategy is consistent with the one employed by the national selection panel in recent seasons.”
Coach Tim Nielsen insisted Australia weren’t being arrogant in resting Gilchrist.
"I don’t think we’re being arrogant … we’re trying to look after the workload of our senior players,” he said.
"It was planned a month ago when we looked at the program. We need to take the results of this a little bit out of this.
"It gives us a chance for him to go home to Perth for a bit of a break and come back to Melbourne (to play India on Boxing Day) fresh, which was always important for us heading into the first Test.
"We planned on two back-to-back games, so obviously it was going to be heavy for him keeping in two games and batting, but obviously we just couldn’t count on the weather, so it was just the way it worked out.
"We planned with the best intentions and as it turned out we had a rest yesterday and he’ll be doubly rested for Melbourne.”
Source: Gilchrist rested by Australia
