17 December 2007

Australia vice-captain Adam Gilchrist has been ordered to miss Thursday's deciding one-day match against New Zealand in Hobart to save himself for the upcoming test series against India.

Australia need to win or draw the match to regain the Chappell-Hadlee they lost to New Zealand last season but will have to do so without Gilchrist.

The wicketkeeper-batsman will be replaced by New South Wales wicketkeeper Brad Haddin after Australia's selectors decided to give Gilchrist a break in accordance with their controversial rotation policy.

"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," the chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said in a statement.

"It's important that Adam's workload is suitably managed with four tests and the (limited-overs one-day) series ahead."

Australia were beaten 3-0 by New Zealand in February when they rested several key players ahead of the World Cup but coach Tim Neilsen dismissed concerns they were treating the Kiwis too lightly.

Australia won the first game of their current series while the second game was washed out. Australia can regain the trophy with a win or a draw but a loss will allow New Zealand to retain the trophy.

"I don't think we're being arrogant ... we're trying to look after the workload of our senior players," Neilsen told reporters on Monday.

"It was planned a month ago when we looked at the programme."

© Reuters 2007

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Chappell Hadlee Trophy