WADE TIPPED TO BOUNCE BACK FROM BITTER PILL

DUMPED Test batsman Matthew Wade still has a “huge” role to play for Australia despite his long-form career appearing over, Hurricanes coach Adam Griffith believes.

Hobart’s Big Bash skipper was axed from the upcoming tour of South Africa after a sub-par series against India in which he managed just 173 runs at 21.6 in the four Tests.

Wade, who put his hand up to open in the first two matches with David Warner sidelined with injury, revived his red-ball dreams in 2019 and scored two centuries in England as Australia retained the Ashes.

However in three home series since, he passed 50 just once and failed to reach the mark in 14 consecutive innings.

The 33-year-old was the only omission from the squad which lost to India 2-1, and was instead named Aaron Finch’s deputy for the country’s concurrent T20 tour of New Zealand, which contains

Hurricanes teammates D’Arcy Short, Riley Meredith and Ben McDermott.

“I don’t want to speculate on selection at that level but Wadey is Wadey, he’s quite a pragmatic bloke, he gets on with the job,” Griffith said.

“He doesn’t let those things affect him too much.

“I still think he’s got a huge role to play for Australia going forward, obviously at the moment it’s in white-ball cricket, and he’ll give it everything he’s got to play well there.

“He’s still in their best white-ball team. When it comes to Test cricket, who knows? If he’s making runs and they need a batter then potentially he gets back in there but he’s the type of character that just gets on with the job.”

While rapt at McDermott and Meredith’s inclusions, Griffith was surprised Nathan Ellis was overlooked after enhancing his reputation following another impressive tournament. Ellis finished as Hobart’s leading wicket-taker (20) and was consistently entrusted to bowl in the most challenging stages of games.

“I was really impressed with Riley (against the Melbourne Renegades) to bounce back the way he did after probably not his best game the game before,” Griffith said.

“It just shows you how good he is. When he’s going well he’s different gravy to most guys in the competition and we all know what Ben can do when he’s on.

“Disappointed for Nathan, I thought he had earned the right to get on that tour but keeping in mind he’s only played for two years now, so he’s like a 19-year-old or a 20year-old in terms of how much cricket he’s played.

“I think he will definitely get an opportunity there and when he does he’ll grab it with both hands because he’s that good.

“I still think he’s one of the best bowlers in the competition and hopefully he gets that chance soon.”