Matthew Wade announce retirement from Test format: The Australian wicketkeeper-batsman, Matthew Wade has announced his retirement from Test cricket just days before the Marsh Sheffield Shield final. Wade shifts focus to T20 World Cup following retirement from Test cricket.
Wade made his Test debut for Australia in 2012 and played 36 matches between 2012 and 2021. During this time, he scored 1613 runs, which featured four centuries.
Wade departed Tasmania to start his cricketing journey in Victoria. He earned his Test debut against the West Indies in 2012 in Bridgetown, where he scored his first century in the third match of that series.
Matthew Wade announce retirement from Test format
Following his last test with his home state, the 36-year-old is bidding farewell to red-ball cricket. However, he remains determined to secure a spot in Australia’s T20 squad for this year’s upcoming World Cup.
Earlier this month, Wade made the decision and informed his Tasmanian teammates before their match against South Australia. This decision came as they secured a spot in the Shield final, where they will face WA in Perth.
Wade, delayed his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to compete in the Shield final with Tasmania.
Wade said in a statement, “I would like to thank my family, my wife Julia, and kids Winter, Goldie, and Duke, for the sacrifices they have made throughout my career, as I travelled Australia and the world as a red-ball cricketer.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges that the long-form game provides, and although I will continue to play white ball cricket, wearing the Baggy Green while playing for my country remains a highlight of my career.’’
While he bids farewell to red-ball cricket, Wade remains committed to playing in the white-ball format, keeping the possibility open to represent Australia in the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled for June in the West Indies and USA. Additionally, he has two more seasons left on his contract with the Hobart Hurricanes.
“I want to be at my best for white-ball cricket, especially BBL,” he said.
“I feel like the squad we’ve got with the Hurricanes should be, it is spoken about every year … pushing for finals if not contending for titles.’’
“I’ve got two years (with Hobart) but I’d love to play longer if I could. I feel fresh. There certainly isn’t (an element of) ‘I’m not playing well enough or I don’t feel I can contribute enough’. It’s more the younger players have managed to shove me out the door.”
Wade stepped in as captain during the recent New Zealand series, leading the team in the final T20I in the absence of Mitch Marsh. He also captained in the five-match T20I series against India following their ICC Cricket World Cup victory last year.
Following Australia’s 3-0 triumph in the New Zealand T20I series, Matthew Wade expressed his enthusiasm about being selected for the T20 World Cup squad.
At 36 years old, he was part of the Australian squad that won the T20 World Cup in 2021, delivering a standout performance in the semi-final against Pakistan. In that match, he scored an unbeaten 41 runs off 17 balls, earning the Player of the Match title and helping his team reach the final.
Wade said, “It’s an exciting time to be in the T20 squad, and I can’t wait to get started at the World Cup, to be honest.”
“I am grateful to all of my teammates throughout my career, along with Cricket Victoria for providing me with the foundations to grow as a first-class cricketer, and Cricket Tasmania for supporting me in finishing my career as a cricketer in my home state.”
“Not playing the longer format of the game will give me an opportunity to get stronger, get in the gym a bit more and have some longevity in that format.”
“Red-ball cricket has always been my number one and favorite format,” added Wade, who has 9183 runs at an average of 40.81 and 463 dismissals from 165 first-class games.’’
“What I’m going to miss is sitting down after four days of really grinding it out in a first-class game and having a beer with your teammates.’’
“I’ve played franchise leagues around the world and you don’t get that feeling.”
Tasmania men’s head coach Jeff Vaughan said, “I would like to personally thank and congratulate Matthew for all he has done for Tasmania and Australia in red-ball cricket, he was always professional, and never shied away from the contest.”
Read also:
Harry Brook withdrawal from IPL 2024 confirms reason for absence
