Two tons could be enough
Wade’s back in town, and he’s confident he can keep his spot
HE doesn’t think he is a 100 per cent locked in, but Tasmanian captain Matthew Wade believes he’s done enough on the Ashes tour to retain his Test spot come the Australian summer.
Wade played in all five Tests, scoring hundreds in the first and last Tests as Australia retained the Ashes on English soil for the first time since 2001. Between the hundreds there were some low scores, but the fact only Wade and star bat Steve Smith reached three figures for the tourists in a series dominated by the ball should have him in the middleorder to face Pakistan at the Gabba starting November 21.
However, there is a hint of caution and given how many runs Wade had to score and how long to be returned as a specialist batsman it is understandable.
“You never feel 100 per cent safe every time you play a game for Australia,” Wade said upon his return to Hobart.
“I feel like I’m playing for my spot and there’ll be no different. I’ve been around long enough to know there’ll be plenty of press around the first few shield games and if you score runs [you’re in the team].
“But I’d like to think that the way that I performed over there [I’ve done enough].
“I’ve got two hundreds but also the couple of innings I played, the 30s that I got at important times in the Leeds Test and the Manchester Test showed that, under pressure, I can stand up in big moments.”
Wade’s second century came after a spirited contest against Hurricanes teammate, England’s express quick Jofra Archer.
The left-hander defied Archer, but not without copping plenty of bruises and glares from the tall quick.
“We had a beer and caught up [after the Test] and had a chat, he’s fine,” Wade said. “It was a good contest.
“I wasn’t too shocked the way the Joker came in and I’d seen it first-hand the skill that he had.”
Wade also praised the calm leadership of captain and fellow Tasmanian Tim Paine during the series.
“Ashes cricket can be a pressure cooker and I thought he handled it really well,” Wade said.
“So within the group he’s got our full respect and the way that he went about it.
“He played some important roles as well not only with the gloves but with the bat, so we all respect Painey highly.”