No unrest from my axing, says Haddin

Brad Haddin has admitted his Australian teammates were "shocked" he did not regain his place for the third Ashes Test having opted out of the second for family reasons but denied it caused any unrest that derailed the campaign.

And Haddin suggested selectors may have erred in taking an ageing team on the Ashes and Caribbean Test tours, including himself, but has backed Australian cricket to demonstrate its depth and rebound strongly.

The former wicketkeeper who played 66 Tests for his country said he "couldn't be more happy" to have ended his international career and dismissed reports of unrest following his exclusion in favour of Peter Nevill.

Watch: Nevill's super start to Test career

"I knew once I made that decision (to miss the second Test at Lord's) I put myself in a vulnerable position," Haddin told Big Sports Breakfast Weekend radio program.

"No matter what the reason you pull out of a Test match, it's a big business these days and Australia performed outstanding in that Lord's Test.

"I don't think that (player unrest) was the case at all.

"I think there were people that were shocked with the decision but you're also in a professional sport these days and if you put yourself in that vulnerable position to walk away you've got to live with the consequences."

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Haddin on the Trent Bridge balcony with Lehmann // Getty

Haddin opted out of the second Test after his daughter Mia fell ill. Under coach Darren Lehmann the team has operated on a "families first" mentality, which lead to the "shock" Haddin spoke of when the third Test XI was named.

Lehmann later said the decision to stick with Nevill for the third Test over Haddin was the "hardest decision I’ve had to make as a coach, or even as a player".

Mia Haddin was diagnosed with neroblastoma in 2012 - prompting Haddin to quit Australia's Tour of the West Indies – but the wicketkeeper was today able to deliver good news about her condition.

"Mia's going well, she had surgery after the Cardiff Test," said Haddin.

"She had some internal bleeding we had to fix and everything has gone well there. Her quality of life will now get back to normal so she can enjoy terrorising her two brothers.

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The Haddin family on the SCG at his retirement announcement // Getty

"I've been very blessed to have great support from my mum and dad and my two brothers but also (wife) Karina and the kids.

"Sportsmen have to sacrifice a lot but the sacrifices your family have to make go unnoticed so it's time to give a bit back to them now."

Haddin was joined on the sidelines by allrounder Shane Watson after the first Test defeat in Cardiff, replaced by Mitchell Marsh, and Haddin said with hindsight the selectors' axe perhaps should have fallen sooner.

"Shane and I got left out after one Test. If we were that close to getting the chop maybe they shouldn't have taken guys like us to the West Indies and give those guys a chance to develop as a bit more of a Test team leading into such a massive campaign," Haddin said.

He called for Smith to continue batting at No.3, said Ricky Ponting was "the best leader of men I've ever played with" and said young NSW product Nic Maddinson had the most potential of the crop of hopefuls looking to force their way into the Test team this summer.

Watch: raw footage from Haddin's retirement press conference