By IANS,
Melbourne : Matthew Hayden will miss the first Test against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, starting Thursday, owing to an achilles tendon injury.
Hayden will be replaced by Simon Katich at the top of the order with Brad Hodge coming in to bat at No.5 for the unavailable Michael Clarke who will join the team for the second Test.
Vice-captain Michael Hussey admitted that the loss of Hayden was a blow.
“Losing Matty Hayden is a huge loss, obviously he leads our batting attack really and has quite a long time,” Hussey was quoted as saying in the Herald Sun.
Katich returns after a two and half year absence, and Hodge comes back after sitting out of Test side for more than two years.
“He (Katich) is a vastly experienced cricketer, and while we are definitely going to miss Hayden at the top of the order, we’ve got an excellent replacement coming in to do a very good job for us.”
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will become Australia’s 400th Test cricketer when he makes his debut following the retirement of Adam Gilchrist.
The West Indies are also without their dominant opener and skipper Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan is leading the side.