T20 World Cup 2021: Matthew Wade keen to nail down the middle-order role as regular openers return

Australia wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade said that he is looking to make an impression in the middle-order spot during the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2021, which is scheduled to begin from October 17 in Oman and UAE. Wade is in good form for Australia and his contributions at the top order for the team in absence of Aaron Finch and David Warner during the West Indies and Bangladesh series were pivotal for the team.

With Finch and Warner set to return at the top for Australia during the global event, Wade is looking to nail the middle-order spot. Since his return to the team in the T20Is, the southpaw has majorly opened the batting on 14 occasions out of the 22 innings. Although the wicketkeeper-batter has scored briskly during this time at the top, Finch during the pre-match presser revealed that Warner will open alongside him during the global event.

“[I’m] preparing more to nail down a middle-order to a lower-order role at the moment,” Wade said in a virtual press conference. “Obviously with Davey [Warner] coming back and Aaron [who] didn’t play the last series when I’ve opened the batting. It’s when one of those guys have been missing [that I’ve opened]. It’s no secret that they’re the best two opening batters that Australia have ever had, so those two are going to go up the top. Just reading between the lines with the way that Mitch [Marsh] played the last series, he’ll probably slot in at the top of the order.”

I’ll see myself settle in probably middle-to-lower order: Matthew Wade

Wade further opined that he has not had discussions with Aaron Finch nor head coach Justin Langer about playing in the middle-order. But with Warner and Finch finalized as openers, Wade is mentally preparing himself to bat in the middle order.

“I suppose my role at the top of the order maybe if we want to go a little bit harder and if they want a left-hander, maybe I’ll go in then, but apart from that, I’ll see myself settle in probably in the middle-to-lower order. I haven’t had extensive conversations with Finchy and JL [coach Justin Langer] and Bails [selector George Bailey] about this yet, but I’ve been around long enough to know where I probably sit within the team and that’s why my training has been tailored towards getting used to that lower order,” he added.

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