I’ve done enough for Test spot, says Wade

TASMANIAN Tigers run machine Matthew Wade believes he has done enough to earn his baggy green in the first Test match for Australia against Pakistan at the Gabba starting on November 21.

After leading Tasmania to its first outright victory of the Sheffield Shield season over Victoria at Blundstone Arena yesterday, Wade said his deeds on Australia’s triumphant Ashes tour of England and his shield form should be enough.

The aggressive left-hander is not “consumed” by the thought.

“I’d love to be there,” Wade said after Tasmania’s six-wicket win yesterday.

“I don’t get consumed with what goes on at this time of the year before a Test series any more.

“I’ve been around so long now and I know there’s a lot of speculation, and I don’t get too caught up in it.

“I focus on what I need to do to go out and win games of cricket for Tassie.”

Wade hit two half-centuries against the Bushrangers, the second anchoring Tasmania’s confident win in the first session on the final day.

The Tigers needed 140 in their second innings to eclipse the Bushrangers’ lead of 139 runs.

After rain ended proceedings early on Saturday, the Tigers resumed at 2-31 needing a further 108 to win.

And after the Tasmanians batted with confidence and positivity, the match finished on a comical note.

Wade hit a single off the first ball of Jon Holland’s seventh over, and mistakenly the umpires knocked the bails off and players started to walk off, only to realise the scores were level and Tasmania needed one more run.

Wade made sure of it next ball, smashing a six over long off, the Tigers 4-144 off 45.2 overs.

They have racked up a win, a draw and a loss from their opening three games.

“We thought it was all over but we needed one more apparently, so I wanted to get it done quickly,” he said.

“I’m just doing the things I’ve been doing over a long period of time and if it works one day, it works, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t — I don’t stress too much. I just know I’ve got to continue to play the way that I know I can play.

“I’m confident I’ve done enough to play the first Test match with what I achieved over in England.

“I certainly haven’t put any extra pressure on myself at the start of this season to go out and prove that I’m the man to get picked.

“If I don’t [get selected], that’s OK as well. I’d love to be playing the first Test match but that’s out of my control.”