Gilchrist's rest gives Haddin a break

Australia's one-day rotation policy has been dusted off after only two games with Adam Gilchrist released from the final match of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in Hobart on Thursday. Brad Haddin, the back-up wicketkeeper, will have a chance to impress in the deciding contest after the fixture in Sydney was rained out, leaving Australia with a 1-0 lead.

Tim Nielsen, the coach, said Gilchrist's rest was planned a month ago. "I don't think we're being arrogant ... we're trying to look after the workload of our senior players," he told AAP. "It gives us a chance for him to go home to Perth."

Gilchrist, who scored 1 and 51 in his two bats, will have a break to refresh before the four-Test series against India, which begins on Boxing Day. "It was always the selection panel's intention for Adam to play in the Twenty20 international and the opening two matches of the one-day series regardless of results," Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said.

"It's important that Adam's workload is suitably managed with four Tests and the CB Series ahead. This strategy is consistent with the one employed in recent seasons."

The squad will not be expanded and Haddin will play his 26th ODI. He appeared in four matches as a specialist batsman in India earlier this year when Michael Hussey was injured, scoring two half-centuries, but was squeezed out for the opening two games against New Zealand.