Heat on Wade for Test position
AUSTRALIA’S coach Darren Lehmann has refused to rule out dropping wicketkeeper Matthew Wade for the second Test against Bangladesh.
Selectors will wait to inspect the Chittagong pitch before deciding on the line-up, but Lehmann yesterday conceded Australia was mulling over all combinations, including the prospect of part-timer Peter Handscomb taking the gloves.
Unrelenting monsoonal rain in the seaport city yesterday did not make the selection picture any clearer, but the suggestion that Wade’s place is not safe during a tour on which there is no specialist back-up wicketkeeper suggests his Test career is in jeopardy.
Lehmann pulled no punches when accepting the criticism that followed Australia’s loss in the first Test and said the players had taken it on the chin and were “hurting”.
He said poor batting cost Australia the match that, despite Bangladesh’s considerable improvement, was its for the taking.
Lehmann said Australia arguably could be considered “underdogs” against ninthranked Bangladesh on a Chittagong pitch he expects to spin as much as the difficult strip in Dhaka.
Steve O’Keefe seems set to form a three-pronged spin attack with Nathan Lyon and Ashton Agar, and Wade’s fate could depend on whether a second fast bowler, Jackson Bird, is added to partner Pat Cummins in the absence of the injured Josh Hazlewood.
Asked if a change of wicketkeeper was possible, Lehmann could give Wade, who has averaged only 21 with the bat since coming back into the side last summer, no guarantees.
“Once we get there we will take a look at the wicket and the conditions and whether we change that or go with one quick or two quicks or three spinners,” Lehmann said.
“It really comes down to what we want to set our side up like for the second Test, and the wicket. It’s not ruled out with any of the XI really. Of the 14 here, anyone could play.”
Lehmann said the selectors arrived in Bangladesh wanting to play Usman Khawaja at No.3 in both Tests leading into this summer’s Ashes.
But Khawaja made one in each innings in Dhaka and is also feeling the heat.
“Look, it’s disappointing for him and obviously a few other players who were disappointing in the Test match,” Lehmann said.