Selector Rod Marsh believes Brad Haddin's lean streak with the bat left Australia with no option but to leave him out of the third Ashes Test.
Haddin withdrew from the second match of the series at Lord's due to personal reasons, with understudy Peter Nevill taking seven catches and making an impressive 45 on debut.
Haddin, having played as a batsman in the tour match against Derbyshire, declared himself available at Edgbaston but Nevill was retained ahead of the experienced 37-year-old.
That drew criticism from a variety of former internationals, including Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Ian Healy, but Marsh - who made the decision alongside coach Darren Lehmann - is convinced there was only one call to make.
"Amazingly hard call, but we have to try to do the best thing for the country and the selection panel believe that was the best thing for the team, for the country," said Marsh, who donned the gloves in 96 Tests.
"He (Haddin) is a fantastic player with a fantastic attitude but he's averaging 15 in his last 12 Test matches.
"He didn't keep well - and he'll admit that - at Cardiff and the new boy did very, very well at Lord's, so in my way of thinking, we didn't have an option.
"We decided that Nevill had such a good game at Lord's, the team played that well, won by 405 runs. It's very hard to change a winning side."
Ponting, who is in England working as a commentator, made the case for Haddin's recall.
"He made the only and right decision to be with his daughter Mia, who was very ill in hospital, and missed that match," he said.
"I know it would have been a hard call for him - he has been a single-minded and determined servant of Australian cricket, but he rightfully put his family first and has paid the price for it.
"I know he won't complain about being dropped. He is a tough character but it doesn't sit right with me."
Source: PA
