Darren Lehmann confident Matthew Wade will be available for the Test series in India

Despite injury worries in the Australian camp, Matthew Wade is expected to be fit for the opening Test against India starting from 23rd February. Aussie coach Darren Lehmann said that the team management has no plans to call up an extra gloveman as a cover for Wade. The southpaw who replaced Peter Nevill as the first choice wicket-keeper last November was earlier picked as the deputy of Steve Smith for the Chappell-Hadlee series before he was ruled out due to back spasms.

Meanwhile, Darren Lehmann said that Wade is already in Dubai for the pre-season camp ahead of the 4 match Test series against the Men in Blue. “He’ll be fine. He’s got on the plane. If there was any doubt, he wasn’t going to get on the plane. So that’s a good thing,” Lehmann was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Peter Handscomb was the makeshift wicket-keeper for Australia in the Chappell-Hadlee series against New Zealand and also in the final Test against Pakistan when he fell sick.

Lehmann conceded that Handscomb’s performances were impressive enough to not call Nevill as the cover for Matthew Wade. Nevill though has been in good form with the bat in the domestic circuit. “He was a bit rusty when he only got 10 minutes notice at Eden Park. (But) he kept well (in Hamilton),” Lehmann said.

Wade’s condition will be accessed once he reaches Dubai and his match-fitness will be tested during the two warm-up ties in UAE and Mumbai. “Unless something flares up during the Dubai leg or tour game, we’ll stay status quo. The bonus with the squad is you’ve got someone who can keep pretty well. That’s handy, having that just in case something happens.”

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Aussie captain Steve Smith who suffered an ankle injury during the series against New Zealand is already in Dubai and despite speculation surrounding his fitness, he is expected to captain his side in the opening Test in Pune. In their previous tour to India, Australia suffered a 4-0 whitewash and they would definitely want to change their fortunes around.