Manou stunned by call-up

South Australia wicketkeeper Graham Manou admitted to being in a state of shock on Thursday night after being rushed in to make his Test debut at Edgbaston following a last-minute injury to Brad Haddin.

Manou, 30, became Test player No.411 for Australia after Haddin was ruled out of the third Test after suffering a suspected broken left ring finger during a training drill.

In the rush to seek permission from England captain Andrew Strauss to allow a replacement for Haddin, there was no time to formally present Manou with his baggy green cap.

The ceremony, usually held prior to the start of the Test, will be conducted before the start of play on day two.

"I don't think you can put it into words to be honest," said a stunned Manou, a veteran of 88 first-class matches for South Australia.

"(I'm) obviously very disappointed for Brad. His series so far has been outstanding and it is a huge loss for us. Look, hopefully I can wear the baggy green with absolute pride."

There is also a strong chance Manou will not be merely a one-Test wonder as Haddin's injury could also rule him out of next week's game at Headingley.

It caps off a remarkable turnaround in Manou's career, which was on the brink of oblivion in late 2006 when he was dumped by South Australia selectors after a poor run with the bat.

"The wave of emotion you have today and over the course of your career, it's all worth it," Manou said.

"Whatever I get to do in this Test I will enjoy it."

Manou returned to state ranks in 2007-08 and finished the season as Redbacks captain.

Another excellent campaign last summer, which reaped 647 runs at 46.21 and two centuries, saw Manou recognised by national selectors as Haddin's understudy.

That had been a role occupied by Western Australia's Luke Ronchi but he suffered a disastrous loss of form and was dropped by the Warriors earlier in the year just weeks after playing international Twenty20 cricket.

Manou enters the Test with only one game under his belt in more than four months but he can at least say he is in form after making an unbeaten 59 and claiming five catches against Northamptonshire last week.

There could be more cause for celebration when he snares his first victim with the gloves. It will be his 300th first-class dismissal.