How is it a backward step, hes better and in more form then anyone else who they would have open, add to that hes a very good fielder. This servies isn't about the future either, its about preparation for the WC, which i think Hayden will play a key role in retaining.
He was crap in the last world cup, has never been a good ODI bat, is the most overrated fielder in the history of the universe, at least on this board, and he really hasn't been in great relevant form. They finally drop him, twice, rightly so as he's almost as big a ballast at the top as Katich, and now they bring him back on the basis of what? One decent Ranger cup innings, that I saw and it wasn't as good as Jaques' performances against England, one of the teams actually playing in this series.
Now that Martyn retired, the rest of the top six is without par, and won't hurt too bad when Haddin takes over, but they want to bring this albatross back in. For what, the hundred in Melbourne, that was not a one day game, when he can score 150 from 130 bring him back, but at 35 he won't learn anything new. One day cricket is not about walking down the pitch to a seamer, it's about placement and strike rotation and improvisation and calculated assault. The other five know how to do all those things, Hayden doesn't.
He's there because Ponting is fond of him, and not so enamoured of the alternatives, if the quotes from the captain on the sqaud reveal anything. All he's doing there now is robbing younger players of needed experience by taking a position he's never done enough to earn. So the likes of Rogers, Jaques, and the half dozen or so middle order players more capable have to spend another few months in the wilderness before they inevitably replace him. Why not get the guys that are going to be there for the next five years in the team for a tri-series against NZ (not in great nick) and Eng (only consider losing worth the effort if it takes 3 or more days), rather than throw them in the deep end when the world cup comes around and Hayden has to be dropped when the selectors finally see the light, for the third time.