Matthew Wade eyes a World Cup berth in the Australian team as a pure batter

It is almost a year since Australia’s wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade played his last ODI and the 30-year-old has come up with a plan to improve his chances of getting a ticket to England for the World Cup 2019. Wade recently revealed that he is willing to part ways with wicket-keeping and focus only on his batting to get a berth in the defending champions’ squad for the mega event.

After failing to find a place in the team for the last Ashes, Wade’s chances of returning as a wicketkeeper to the team have waned. Tim Paine, his replacement is currently leading the side in the absence of batting stalwarts Steve Smith and David Warner, the Tasmanian has decided to focus entirely on batting to make his presence felt. Wade has scored 1,777 runs in 94 ODI matches so far at an average of 25.75 and strike rate of 82 plus. He has one hundred and 10 fifties to his credit in the format.

In Tests, Wade has represented Australia on 22 occasions and has scored 886 runs with two centuries and four fifties. As a keeper, he has effected 20 stumpings in international cricket.

“I don’t think I’ll probably play Test cricket again, not as a wicketkeeper-batter anyway,” Wade told cricket.com.au.
“I still have the ambition to play white-ball cricket for Australia. With the World Cup just around the corner I don’t feel that anyone’s cemented their spots since I went out of the team 12 months ago in white-ball cricket. I feel like if I’m given the opportunity again, if things fall into place close to the World Cup I can still play in that for sure.”

The 30-year-old found his spot in the team going to Paine after Australia’s away series in India last October. Paine though has done better as a wicketkeeper, his batting form hasn’t been impressive, averaging below 22 in nine matches with a top score of 34.

Wade’s good run with bat for Tasmania

Wade’s course correction, on the other hand, earned him returns. He played for Tasmania as a batsman and in February-March, slammed three centuries in last five matches with two back-to-back centuries against Western Australia and New South Wales, followed by another against Queensland after a game’s gap. He also scored a 68 and 49 against South Australia and Victoria, respectively, in between.

The left-hand batsman has 12 centuries in first-class cricket now at an average of 38.16 and it might boost his claim for a berth in the World cup squad for England. Australia will be defending their fifth world title, won at home, in 2015.

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