Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade is likely to return to play One Day International (ODI) cricket after nearly four years in the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies starting on July 21, and could even lead the team if skipper Aaron Finch is ruled out of the series.
Finch picked up a knee injury having twisted his knee in the field and was significantly hampered in Australia’s chase during the fifth and final T20I in St Lucia, as the tourists fell 16 runs short and West Indies sealed the T20I series 4-1 in style on Friday (July 16).
As the Australian squad travels to Barbados on Saturday for the ODI series, Wade is the most likely to lead Australia if Finch were to be absent and the veteran cricketer said he would love to captain his country again if the regular skipper is ruled out of the upcoming series.
However, the 33-year-old said he just wants to “wait and see” if the opportunity comes his way both for leadership and making a come back to Australia’s playing XI against the West Indies.
As reported by cricket.com.au, Wade said: “It's a bit of a moving thing, the vice-captaincy. Going forward in the one-dayers I have no idea what will happen there. I am probably not expecting to play, especially if Finchy plays, but if he doesn't there might be an opportunity for me to play.”
He added, “I came over here thinking I would play the T20s and I wouldn't play the ODIs. I think some of the younger guys would get some opportunities to play them which is fair enough, I've been around a long time now. But if Finchy doesn't come up there might be an opportunity to play, so we'll wait and see.”
The left-hander had captained Australia last summer in one T20I against India when Finch missed the game. Wade noted, “I love to captain whenever I get an opportunity. I captained in the T20Is (against India last summer), and we've got plenty of different leaders here.”
He signed off by saying, “Moises is a really good leader, Adam Zampa is getting better and better, 'Starcy' and 'Hoff' (Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood) go about their thing. Captaining is pretty easy at this level with those experienced guys around so if I got the opportunity I'd jump at it.”
(With ANI Inputs)
