Melbourne. Australian wicketkeeperbatsman Matthew Wade has announced his retirement from international cricket and will now take up an assistant coaching role with the national team.
Wade has ended a 13year international career having played on more than 200 occasions for Australia, the majority of which came through the two whiteball formats. The T20 World Cup 2021 winner, Wade has played 36 Test matches, 97 ODIs and 92 T20 matches for Australia, and has also captained the ODI and T20 teams.
The wicketkeeperbatsman, however, will continue to play whiteball cricket for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes, as well as some overseas leagues. His plans for his postplaying career are already set, with the 36yearold set to become Australia's wicketkeeping and fielding coach for the T20I series against Pakistan next month.
“I was fully aware that my international days were probably over at the end of the last T20 World Cup,” Wade said about my international retirement and coaching with George (Bailey) and Andrew (McDonald) over the last six months. Coaching has been on my radar for the past few years and thankfully I have had some great opportunities, which I am very grateful and excited about. I am looking forward to the BBL (Big Bash League) and a few franchises in the summer months. Will continue to play league, but am investing heavily in my coaching around those commitments as a player.
He said, “As my international career comes to an end, I want to thank all my Australian teammates, staff and coaches. As challenging as it may have been at international level, I have enjoyed the journey. I have great people around me.” Without it, I never would have been able to get as much out of myself as I did.”
Wade made his T20 and ODI debuts in the summer of 201112 and won his baggy green in Barbados in 2012, when Brad Haddin left for personal reasons.
He played for Australia in three editions of the T20 World Cup, with his most memorable achievement coming in 2021 when he played in the role of vicecaptain, helping Australia reach their first 20over title in Dubai. He had a stellar performance in that tournament, scoring an unbeaten 41 off just 17 balls in a thrilling semifinal win against Pakistan.
Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia, said, “Congratulations to Matthew on an outstanding international career, in which his skills and versatility have made him a great player across all formats. I am delighted that he will continue his career by coaching the next generation of stars and “Will add to his huge contribution by impressing in the Big Bash with the Hobart Hurricanes.”
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Image Credit: KhasKhabar.