Cricket Australia has ushered in a new era by naming Victorian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade rather than the 35-year-old Brad Haddin for the first test against South Africa.
Australia's 12-man squad includes a top-six batting lineup as expected, with the modestly-performed Ed Cowan to open with David Warner, Shane Watson at No.3, the 165-Test veteran Ricky Ponting at No.4 followed by skipper Michael Clarke and Ponting's fellow 37-year-old Mike Hussey.
The 43-test veteran Haddin's last appearance in the baggy green was in Adelaide against India in January 2012 before missing the West Indies tour in April for family reasons.
Yet Haddin provided inspired captaincy in this morning's Champions League Twenty20 final as his Sydney Sixers - including the Black Caps all-rounder Nathan McCullum - crushed the home team Highveld Lions by 10 wickets in Johannesburg.
Wade, 24, made his debut in Barbados in April and posted a century in the third test in Dominica. The Hobart-born Wade's 106 was the only century by an Australia player in the series.
The opening test starts in Brisbane on November 9th.
