Peter Nevill keeps his hopes alive as Australia gear up for the Ashes

New South Wales wicketkeeper-batsman, Peter Nevill is eyeing a return in the white jersey and is targeting this summer’s Ashes series in England for the opportunity. Nevill is hoping to put forward a strong contention by scoring some runs in the domestic circuit which will eventually help him earn his way back in playing XI.

The 31-year-old was replaced by incumbent Test keeper, Mathew Wade for the series against South Africain November of 2016. Wade could gather only nine runs in two innings combined in the Dhaka Test, besides conceding as many as 22 byes. On a surface that threw open a bagful of tricks with inconsistent turn and bounce, the left-handed batter had a tough time keeping to spinners Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar.

Albeit it was a difficult pitch to keep on, it ignites hope for Nevill to be back in the scheme of things as Wade is clearly struggling which puts the spot up for grabs.

Nevill keeps his hopes alive

Nevill told cricket.com.au about his expectation of returning to the Australia XI for the first Test at the Gabba in November. “It’s all about playing the best cricket I can. And that’s going to be for NSW in the one-day tournament and then there’s going to be two or three Shield games before the Ashes squad gets announced,” he said.

‘Tough call’ to drop Wade

However, Australian skipper, Steve Smith believes that it will be a ‘tough call’ to drop Mathew Wade from the squad. But the 29-year-old remains under pressure to score runs at No.7, with captain Smith insisting in the lead-up to the Test the side needed “a little bit more” from him with the bat.

The skipper had said, “It certainly would be a tough call (to drop Wade. “I think when we are looking at Matty we just need a little bit more from him with the bat in particular. He knows that he has to do a little bit better with the bat. And he’s had those conversations.”

Ian Healy terms Nevill unlucky

The NSW ‘keeper has the backing of Test great Ian Healy, who told Wide World of Sports last weekend that he still considers Nevill as the best wicketkeeper in the country and even termed him a ‘bit unlucky’.

“I said at the time (last summer) Peter Nevill was unlucky to get dropped. I consider him the best gloveman in the country, and he’d just made an unbeaten 60 in Perth, then got dropped a match later. If Wade has a good Test in Chittagong I expect he’ll be there at the Gabba,” Healy said.

“But if he struggles the selectors will definitely be looking around. It may come down to who does the best in the first couple of Shield matches. But the Ashes is no time to be looking at someone new. If it’s not Wade, they have to go back to Nevill,” he concluded.