Matthew Wade mulls retirement post 2022 T20 World Cup at home

Matthew Wade was one of the main reasons why Australia went on to win the ICC T20 WC 2021. The firepower provided by him in the lower middle order turned out to be a boon for his side. However, on Thursday, he said that he may retire after the T20 World Cup 2022 Down Under

The Tasmanian became Australia’s hero after the semi-final against Pakistan, his unbeaten 41 off just the 17 deliveries made sure that his team ended on the winning side. It was absolute mayhem when the wicketkeeper-batter hit three sixes against Shaheen Afridi to ensure Australia’s ticket to the grand finale.

Despite his monumental effort in the recently concluded ICC T20 WC 2021, he wasn’t picked for the Ashes squad. The selectors decided to pick the talented wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey ahead of him. Thus, Wade’s goal now is to defend the T20 WC title at home

Get to that World Cup, defend the title, and then I can sail off into the sunset: Matthew Wade

The gloveman hinted at his retirement. He said that he may retire from international cricket after the next T20 WC which is all set to take place in Australia in 2022. “That’ll be my next motivation – hopefully, get to that World Cup, defend the title, and then I can sail off into the sunset,” Wade was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

“I certainly won’t be playing (international cricket) beyond that point. That would be my goal from here,” he said. This means that the upcoming T20 WC could be the last time the Aussie cricket fans see the 33-year-old in the Australian jersey.

The Hobart Hurricanes skipper also revealed that he had played the final against New Zealand with a grade 2 side strain, which he got during training before the summit clash. The Aussie captain Aaron Finch said that there was a little bit of fear of the gloveman missing the final.

“I was a little bit worried the night before the game, for sure. If I had have woken up and I couldn’t swing the bat, I wouldn’t have played.”I was worried that if we’d batted first and I had to go as hard as I could and I tore it then, I wouldn’t be able to keep and that would hurt the team a lot,” Wade said.

“There was always a little bit of fear (of Wade missing the final). The doctor forced him into a scan. He didn’t want to know the result, but I knew … and being a grade two tear in his side, it was going to be tough,” said Finch.