'F*** you to selectors?': Matthew Wade's bizarre move baffles fans
Matthew Wade appears to have taken a subtle swipe at Australian selectors amid his ongoing snub from the national side.
It was thought Wade would move up the order to No.4 or 5 as the Sheffield Shield returned on Saturday, after Tasmanian teammate George Bailey dislocated his shoulder in the Big Bash final.
Many saw it as a huge chance for Wade to press his Ashes claims as a specialist batsman, after chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns previously stated he needed to bat higher than No.6 for Tasmania to be considered for Australia.
Wade has plundered runs in the Sheffield Shield and Big Bash League this season, but it hasn’t led to a national call-up.
“The situation probably dictates that I need to go up and take a bit more responsibility for the team. I’ll do that,” Wade said earlier this week.
“I’ve batted three for Victoria a couple of times. It doesn’t worry me too much.
“Whether it’s four or five, I’m not 100 per cent sure yet.”
However fans were left baffled on Saturday when Wade – captaining Tasmania despite Aussie skipper Tim Paine playing – still listed himself to bat at No.6.
Two changes from our last #SheffieldShield match played before the Big Bash break and a debut for Charlie Wakim!
Today's XI:
Silk
Doolan
Wakim
McDermott
Doran
Wade
Paine
Rogers
Pyecroft
Bird
Meredith#WeAreTigers #SAvTAS— Cricket Tasmania (@crickettas) February 22, 2019
Paine also took the gloves over Wade, despite the fact Wade could be considered as Paine’s back-up for the Ashes.
Whether or not he bats higher still remains to be seen, but some fans thought maybe it was a crack at Hohns and selectors.
“A big f*** you to national selectors?” one fan wrote on Twitter.
So Matthew Wade is the highest scoring run-maker in the country this summer, is playing only as a batsman with Tim Paine keeping … but will continue to bat down at 6. A complete waste and does his (very slim) hopes of higher honours no favours at all. #SheffieldShield
— Brad Henderson (@bradhendosports) February 23, 2019
Wade not batting higher as per national selectors' suggestion?
— Stephen Andrews (@steveosaurusrx) February 22, 2019
Wade is the leading Shield run-scorers with 571 and scored 592 for the Hurricanes in the BBL, second behind opening partner D’Arcy Short.
He recently vented his frustration at Australian selectors for sending mixed messages but also said he was no longer “hung up” on being snubbed.
Paine takes four catches in Shield clash
South Australia’s struggling top-order again failed to fire as their Sheffield Shield’s bottom side resumed their campaign against Tasmania.
The Redbacks were bowled out for 235 under sunny skies at Adelaide Oval, with Wade even chipping in with a wicket.
Only Travis Head offered significant resistance with the Redbacks’ skipper adding 50 before he was the sixth wicket to fall.
Wade had Cameron Valante caught at gully by Jackson Bird for the sixth wicket of his first class career.
Australia captain Paine, in a relatively rare outing for the Tigers, picked up four catches behind the wicket.
with AAP
