Matthew Wade, the former Australian wicketkeeper-batter, has bid farewell to international cricket and will embark on a new chapter as a coach with the national team. Wade’s retirement comes after a distinguished career spanning over a decade, during which he represented Australia in 36 Tests, 97 ODIs, and 92 T20Is.
Wade’s international journey began in 2011, and he quickly established himself as a versatile player, capable of contributing with both bat and gloves. He played a pivotal role in Australia’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2021, showcasing his prowess as a finisher with a match-winning knock in the semi-final against Pakistan.
In recent years, Wade has transitioned to a more specialized role as a batter, and he enjoyed a successful return to the Test side in 2019, scoring two centuries in the Ashes series. However, his Test career came to an end in 2021, and he also retired from red-ball cricket at the domestic level in March 2023.
While Wade’s international career has come to a close, he will continue to play in the Big Bash League (BBL) for the Hobart Hurricanes and participate in franchise tournaments around the world. He will also bring his experience and expertise to the Australian T20I squad as a coach, working alongside head coach Andre Borovec.
Wade’s retirement marks the end of an era for Australian cricket, as he was one of the last remaining members of the team that won the 2015 World Cup. His contributions to the national team have been immense, and he will be remembered as a skilled and versatile player who always gave his all on the field.
