Matthew Wade represented his country in 36 Tests, 97 ODIs and 92 T20Is.
Veteran Australian wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade announced his retirement from international cricket at the age of 36 on Tuesday (October 29).
Wade, who made his debut for Australia in 2011, went on to represent his country in 36 Tests, 97 ODIs and 92 T20Is. He played a critical role in Australia's only T20 World Cup triumph in 2021, hitting an unbeaten 41 off 17 balls in the semi-final against Pakistan in Dubai.
"I'm officially retiring," Wade was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. "It's been an ongoing discussion for pretty much every tour or every World Cup that I've been on in the last three or four years.
"It's been a really fluent conversation that I've had with George (Bailey, chief selector) and Ronnie (coach Andrew McDonald) over the last six months or since the last World Cup finished. Even leading into the last World Cup, we've been really open and had really great communication around where I'm at with my career.
"If we went into the last World Cup and I managed to get some runs and we won that, then things would look maybe a little different and maybe I'd keep going … it was just kind of an understanding from all of us," he added.
The southpaw revealed that the emotions really hit home after the loss to India in the T20 World Cup match earlier this year in the Caribbean when he sat down and realised probably that was the end of his career.
"It probably hit home after we lost against India. That was an emotional moment. The relationships that I've built, more over the last three years in that team – I really enjoy playing in that team, and I felt really connected to that playing group and that coaching staff," he stated.
Matthew Wade will continue to play for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes in Australia and other T20 leagues across the globe. He has already signed up with Sharjah Warriors for the International League T20 Season.
The left-hander has also swiftly moved into coaching career after having completed his Level III coaching certificate.
"Coaching has been on my radar over the last few years and thankfully some great opportunities have come my way, for which I am very grateful and excite," he said.
Wade has been named as wicketkeeping and fielding coach for Australia’s home T20I series against Pakistan next month. He will be working closely with Josh Inglis, who has emerged as Australia’s leading wicketkeeper-batter in white-ball cricket in recent times.
"The time was right for Ingo (Inglis) to come in. You can see what he's done in the last (few months that) he's been in the team as the No.1 'keeper. He was certainly ready to come in and take that role.
"They're looking for maybe someone who can bat more top to middle order now as well and that suits him really well. So really comfortable and happy he's got an opportunity now," he remarked.
Matthew Wade amassed 4,682 runs for Australia across formats, including four Test centuries and one ODI ton. He also affected 266 dismissals as a wicketkeeper.