MAKE WAY FOR WADE

Bailey hands over the reins in Canes shake-up

THE full transition is complete with George Bailey handing over the Hurricanes’ captaincy to Matthew Wade.

The Mercury can reveal Wade will be named as the Canes’ skipper after taking over from Bailey, 36, as Tigers captain for the past two Sheffield Shield games.

Since relinquishing the Tigers’ captaincy after seven seasons in charge, partly due to the complete absence of form, the runs have flowed for Bailey with scores of 28, 63, 25 and 109.

“I’m enjoying playing without captaining and I’m enjoying playing under Wadey, it’s as simple as that,” Bailey said.

Wade said he hoped that Bailey’s form would continue on in purple.

“Certainly to me he looks like the George Bailey of old — enjoying himself on the ground and enjoying playing cricket,” Wade said.

“He captained for seven or eight years and I did four for Victoria and I know by the end of that I was ready for a bit of a break, so I can only assume that after that long period of time he’s probably enjoying just being able to play.”

While being a multiple shield-winning skipper with Victoria, it will be Wade’s first run as a BBL skipper.

Last year he batted everywhere, including controversially being relegated to No.6 in the final where he was run out without facing a ball after being player of the match in the semi-final win over Perth opening the batting.

Wade said the side would be more settled this season.

“I have batted all over the line in BBL, but I think whatever I do I’ll be a lot more settled this year, I do know that,” he said.

“We haven’t sat down and gone through roles specifically, but our top order especially will be a touch more settled this year. We won’t chop and change as much as we did.

“That is something ‘Griffo’ [coach Adam Griffith] wants to lock down. Whatever we go with before the game will stay like that.”

Wade said at 30 and with 100 T20 games under his belt he had the experience to captain the side as well as keep wickets and bat in key positions, but said he would not be doing the leadership all on his own.

“That is the great thing about George, he hasn’t retired so we’ll get George in a position where he can still work with the bowlers and the fielders,” Wade said.

The Hurricanes’ first game is against the Brisbane Heat on December 22 on the Gold Coast.