Brad Haddin to miss second Ashes Test due to personal reasons as Darren Lehmann hands the gloves to back-up Peter Nevill

• Brad Haddin left out of second Ashes Test, starting on Thursday
•  Darren Lehmann seen working with replacement Peter Nevill in nets 
• The change is due to personal reasons rather than poor form
• Australia trail 1-0 in Ashes series after first Test in Cardiff
• CLICK HERE to follow day one of the second Ashes Test  

By Lawrence Booth for the Daily Mail

Published: 06:55 EST, 14 July 2015 | Updated: 06:16 EST, 16 July 2015

Australia’s Ashes tour was in crisis after experienced wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was forced to pull out of the second Test at Lord’s for personal reasons and Shane Watson was dropped.

That means a Test debut for 29-year-old New South Wales keeper Peter Nevill, who is uncapped by Australia in any international format, and a recall for 23-year-old all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who played four Tests late last year.

'I can confirm that Brad Haddin has withdrawn himself from the second Test at Lord’s for family reasons,' the team’s media manager, Kate Hutchison, said. 'He will remain with the team in London.'

Darren Lehman is seen talking to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin inside the Lord's dressing rooms

Second-choice wicketkeeper Peter Nevill is put through his paces during a nets session at Lord's

Haddin talks with Australian team phsychologist Michale Lloyd during Monday's session at Lord's

Haddin, 37, had a poor match in the first Test defeat at Cardiff, where he dropped Joe Root on nought in the first innings – Root went on to make 134 – and made only 22 and seven with the bat himself.

But his absence is still a hammer blow to an Australian side already reeling from the pre-series retirement of fast bowler Ryan Harris, and their 169-run thrashing in last week’s series opener – a result that has left them with only one win in their last 15 Tests in England.

The tourists have also had to manage the fitness of left-arm quick Mitchell Starc after he picked up an injury to his right ankle in Cardiff, while all-rounder Shane Watson has faced speculation over his position in the team following a poor showing in the first Test, where he twice fell lbw.

As if all that was not enough, all-rounder James Faulkner will sit out the limited-overs series at the end of the Ashes after being arrested for drink-driving earlier this month.

Nevill is expected to replace Haddin in the second Test, but it is not thought that Haddin is being dropped

The 29-year-old Nevill would be making his Test debut if selected for the second Ashes Test at Lord's

Faulkner, who has been playing for Lancashire, will appear in court in Manchester on Monday, and has been banned by Cricket Australia for four matches.

He will be considered for selection in the later stages of the one-day series against England only if a team-mate is injured.

Back at Lord’s, Starc emerged unscathed from training on Tuesday, though his selection for the Test, starting on Thursday, would still represent a huge risk for Australia.

The third and fourth Tests at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge are back to back, and in the present circumstances Australia can hardly afford to exacerbate an injury to their attack leader.

The selection of Nevill, meanwhile, could persuade the Australian selectors to stick with Watson. If they were to replace Watson with Mitchell Marsh, who has played only four Tests, the middle order would suddenly look disconcertingly raw.

Nevill, though, is highly rated by England coach Trevor Bayliss, who previously coached him at New South Wales. He boasts a first-class average of 44, six higher than Haddin.

‘His record back home speaks for itself,’ said Australian seamer Peter Siddle. ‘He’s had a couple of great years in first-class cricket. If he gets his opportunity, he’ll be ready to go.’ 

Brad Haddin dropped Joe Root when the England batsman was on 0, before he went on to make a big score

Haddin cannot hide his disappointment, but it is not thought to be his form that has led to the change

Siddle, who is likely to play at Lord’s if Starc is declared unfit, was nonplussed by Jimmy Anderson’s claim that Australia had refused to come into England’s dressing-room for a beer at the end of the Cardiff Test.

‘It’s my fifth Ashes series and it’s the first time anyone would have gone to have a drink after one Test match,’ he said.

‘So it’s a little bit of an interesting story – especially from Jimmy, considering we had a drink at The Oval last time and he goes: "I don’t know why we do this. I can’t stand it".

‘Through the series, as we know, there are a lot of tough battles that go on, between bat and ball, player versus player. There’s no doubt at the end of the series we can have that drink.’ 

England coach Trevor Bayliss on opening win in the Ashes

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