Sublime Sheffield Shield and Big Bash form has again gone unrewarded for Matthew Wade, with the wicketkeeper-turned-batsman left off the sheet for Australia’s upcoming ODI tour of India.
Wade has scored 487 runs at an average of 44 in this season of the Big Bash, boasting a strike rate of 143 and five half-centuries in just 12 innings.
With the red ball, he’s scored 571 runs at an average of 63.
But Australian selectors have again overlooked the former first-choice Test keeper, electing for surprise selections Ashton Turner and Usman Khawaja instead.
With the side picked for this tour a likely indication of who’s in favour for the World Cup, it would appear Wade’s chances of featuring in a tournament are all but dashed, as are talismanic Brisbane Heat star Chris Lynn’s.
Dropped from the squad who took on India at home are Mitchell Marsh, Peter Siddle and Billy Stanlake – putting at least a pencil-drawn line through their World Cup chances.
That said, Turner has been solid in the shorter formats, scoring 378 runs at an average of 34 for a dismal Perth Scorchers outfit.
Khawaja’s selection raises eyebrows, however, with many believing he’d be left to play Shield cricket and gear up for the Ashes.
Vice-captain Alex Carey is the lone glovesman heading to the subcontinent, while Pat Cummins has been elevated to vice-captain and Kane Richardson joins the squad in light of mounting injuries to Australia’s bowling stocks.
Josh Hazlewood is still sidelined with a back injury, while Mitchell Starc was revealed to have suffered a pectoral tear in the second Test against Sri Lanka – although selectors claim the latter will be fit for the Pakistan series in March.
D’Arcy Short has also been included as cover for the first two matches as Shaun Marsh remains in Australia for the birth of his second child.
Aaron Finch (c) (Victoria)
Usman Khawaja (Queensland)
Shaun Marsh (Western Australia)
Peter Handscomb (Victoria)
Glenn Maxwell (Victoria)
Ashton Turner (Western Australia)
Marcus Stoinis (Western Australia)
Alex Carey (vc) (South Australia)
Pat Cummins (vc) (New South Wales)
Nathan Coulter-Nile (Western Australia)
Jhye Richardson (Western Australia)
Kane Richardson (South Australia)
Jason Behrendorff (Western Australia)
Nathan Lyon (New South Wales)
Adam Zampa (South Australia)
D’Arcy Short (Western Australia)*
* – included as cover for Shaun Marsh during first portion of tour
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Bloody ridiculous with such a large squad, that the most inform domestic player isn't considered. Couple that with a vc selection - Carey - who's barely played for Australia and there's some strange selection processes being employed!
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
With this selected squad A.Carey seems a lock-in to open, which seems short-sighted (pun intended). Darcy Short should be in the squad and opening with D.Warner; let U.Khawaja and A.Finch battle for the #3 spot and move Carey to #7 spot..
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
A couple of points: There seems a lot of west aussies in the squad, I guess they must have loads of character so loved by the coach. Ashton Turner and NCN especially seem a mite lucky. I also don't get the love for Adam Zampa. My grandma can spin the ball further that he can. Mitch Swepson is a far better leg spinner, hell Cameron Boyce is a better selection. However none of them are international class spinners until they develop a wrong-un that can't be easily read by the batsman. A sad indication when all the BBL teams are searching Pakistan and Afghanistan for a leg spinner. As for a keeper, M.Wade drops too many and A.Carey is poor with the spinners. I would try out Jimmy Pearson of Queensland who is a better keeper than either of them and not bad with the bat also.
HB
Guest
Why not? I know they are more expensive than others but they are wicket takers. I can't see that we will ever bowl any teams out without a few bowlers who can be expected to take at least two wickets per innings.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am going to guess the wicket keeping thing come into the selection process of the wicket keeper.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It has been pretty clear throughout his career that Shaun is not interested in captaincy. There are many players like Marsh, Lyon, Hussey, Langer, Gillespie that have value-added through team spirit...the vibe...the joy. They play different roles...equally valuable.
AREH
Roar Guru
Wade definitely possesses the superior form and strike-rate to Carey, and I find it baffling they haven't gone down this path. Whatever the case, I think the assertions many have made about the selectors putting a line through his name for national selection could have some truth. Whether this is behavior/culture related, I'm not sure, or if they just don't trust his keeping in any International scene. He is pushing a firm case as a pure bat, similar to the test selection discussion. Some people somewhere just may not want him anywhere near the setup, but I'd like to be proven wrong with the white-ball form he is in.
Peter warrington
Guest
and the Shield. and the JTL.
Peter Warrington
Guest
You see? we can agree on something. opener, and captain. a nice way to end his interesting career.
jammel
Roar Rookie
I'd personally go Wade over Carey. Wade is a much better striker of the ball - and is in great form atm too! But I appreciate that's just not going to happen at this stage. Given this, though, I would go Handscomb as the wk - like others would as well. I would list Handscomb at #6/7 though - Maxwell IMO must bat at five in most scenarios. So my best XI would be: Warner FinchC Smith SMarsh MaxwellV Handscomb+ Stoinis Cummins Starc Zampa Hazlewood Reserves: Short Lynn JRichardson Lyon (Behrendorff and even Boyce or Agar to go close to this squad. Khawaja to play if SMarsh isn't fit. You can always bring in another wk if Handscomb is injured)
JM
Guest
Tye would have to be one of the most overrated bowlers in the country.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Have you seen Tye's record. He leaks far too many runs. Still has career economy over 6rpo.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Wade is young enough that he can still qualify for a new country isnt he? Maybe he should move to another test playing nation where they will appreciate his form. What more can one person do? I guess he could change his name to Matthew Marsh. That'll get a sure fire selection. hehe
concerned supporter
Guest
Langer showing his true colours. 7 West Australians in the squad??? Why no A.Tye? C.Bancroft? M.Marsh? And Agar is injured. Otherwise the Aust. Team could be 100% West Australian.
Peter Warrington
Guest
That is all I wanted to confirm. Despite the season and career numbers, You stand by your contention that’s Carey is more dynamic with the bat than Wade. That must make Wade pretty static I guess. Given Carey’s poor numbers. Maybe we can do better than either. Bangers and mash!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
This is the bloke that had Maxi punished for speaking out.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I could mention every keeper other than Wade as better options. You don't pick a backstop over a keeper because he has batted better in a different form of the game. I have already told you that Carey bats better. Now I'm telling you that Bancroft does too...in the same form of the game. It's not hard to explain Wade's exclusion. Others are better.
JM
Guest
Andrew Tye and Sean Abbott should be no where near the ODI squad.
Rob
Guest
What's up with the love Wade is receiving. Everyone was calling for his head years ago when he was in the Aussie side and now he's shown a bit of form in the BBL (terrible standard this year) and everyone wants him back?
Rob
Guest
Finch is terribly out of form but he deserves this series to find some form again. People seem to forget how good him and Warner are together at the top of the order when at their best. If we wan't to go deep in this world cup we need the two of them firing at the top. Not to mention that Finch is tactically very good as a captain.