Haddin not linked to explosive device: Police

Sydney, July 18 - Sydney police confirmed on Saturday an explosive device was recovered from outside the house of Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin but say it was possibly discarded at random and not directly linked to the cricketer or his family.

"There is nothing at this time to indicate this incident is anything other than random," Ryde Local Area Command Superintendent John Duncan said in a statement on Saturday, reports cricket.com.au.

"The item is not sophisticated. All the indications at this stage of our investigation suggest that whoever had possession of this item has discarded it on the nature strip.

"I urge anyone with information about unusual or suspicious activity in the area yesterday to contact police or Crime Stoppers immediately," he added.

Superintendent Duncan said a neighbour of Haddin first noticed the device in front of Haddin's property on Friday. The neighbour was suspicious and contacted police, who removed it for forensic analysis.

The Haddin family bought the property which overlooks Glades Bay on the Parramatta River in September 2010.

Haddin this week was withdrawn from the second Ashes Test at Lord's due to personal reasons. Australia are currently playing the second Ashes Test against England. They trail the five-match series 0-1.

(IANS)