Wade’s domestic bliss

AS ammunition for a selection argument goes Matthew Wade’s trophy for Domestic Player of the Year is a great big bullet in his gun.

The Tasmanian was a comprehensive winner of the award after a stunning season for both Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes compiling more centuries than any other player.

Wade, who played the last of his 22 Tests in 2017, just a month before the last of his 94 one-day internationals, smacked five hundreds and seven half-centuries across the voting period.

Five of those fifties, and one hundred, have come in the current Sheffield Shield season, in which Wade is the leading runscorer with 571.

Test opener Marcus Harris is second behind Wade, and his 501 runs earned him a national call-up this summer.

Wade, who returned to Tasmania last summer after his exit from the national teams, has been outspoken about his continued omission, and the mixed messages selectors are offering.

“It’s just a little bit frustrating,” Wade said in January.

“And I don’t think I’m just talking for myself, I think all players around the country — if the criteria is hundreds and scoring runs, then pick the guys that are doing it.

But only last week the 31year-old conceded that Australian coach Justin Langer and national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns had reached out to him to full explain their position.

Wade maintains strong international ambitions and has put the Ashes on his radar.

But the left-hander has also said recently that he is no longer “hung up” on national selection, happy to try and secure wins for Tasmania and the Hurricanes. “I don’t play cricket solely to play for Australia. I play cricket to win games for the Hurricanes and win games for the Tigers.

“I have done that throughout my whole career, I have never been the guy that goes out and plays for individual accolades.

“I’m not putting myself in front of the team success.”