Wade shift to drive case for Test spot

TASMANIAN captain Matthew Wade will shift up the order following the injury to his predecessor George Bailey in a move that could boost his Ashes hopes.

Despite leading all Sheffield Shield scorers heading into the BBL – and continuing his run spree in the Big Bash where he piled on the second most runs behind teammate D’arcy Short – Wade continues to be overlooked for higher honours.

National chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns publicly stated Wade needed to bat higher for the Tigers after he missed selection for the fourth Test against India, much to the irritation of Cricket Tasmania officials who had received no such feedback.

However with Bailey sidelined for at least the next fortnight after dislocating his shoulder in the BBL semi-final loss to the Melbourne Stars, Wade will move to as high as No. 4 when the Shield competition resumes this weekend.

“I will probably go up, it is just how far up I go,” said Wade, who has remained locked at No. 6 in the order.

“I was in no position or didn’t want to move up the order just for my personal success. “The situation that is going on at the moment probably dictates that I need to go up and take a bit more responsibility for the team and I will do that.

“I think it will open up the opportunity to move up now I am playing as a specialist batter … whether it is four or five I’m not 100 per cent sure yet.”

Wade will hand the gloves to Test skipper Tim Paine against South Australia in Adelaide, and if he can finish the Shield season as strong as he started it could mount an irresistible case for selectors to pick him for the Ashes tour later this year.

However the 31-year-old remains focused on leading the state back into the Shield final after a spluttering campaign leading into Christmas.