MELBOURNE: Australian wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade has announced his retirement from the international cricket on Tuesday, with his career spanning 13 years and 225 international appearances for Australia.
The 36-year-old retires having featured for his country at three editions of the T20 World Cup, with his most memorable achievement coming in 2021 when he helped guide Australia to their inaugural 20-over title in Dubai in his role as vice-captain.
Wade starred at that tournament, with his innings of 41* from just 17 deliverers in a thrilling semi-final victory over Pakistan among his many career highlights.
The keeper-batter also made 36 Test appearances for Australia, scoring 1,613 runs with four Test centuries and five fifties at an average of 29.87 with a career-best score of 117 coming in the fifth Ashes Test against England at The Oval in 2019.
He played 97 ODIs as well, scoring 1,867 runs in 83 innings at an average of 26.29, with a century and 11 fifties to his name. In 92 T20Is, he scored 1,202 runs at an average of 26.03, with a strike rate of 134.15. He scored three half-centuries in the format, with the best score of 80.
While Wade will continue to play at the domestic level in Australia and appear in franchise cricket around the world, the veteran will begin his coaching journey immediately having been drafted into the Aussies’ coaching staff for next month’s T20I series at home against Pakistan.
Wade is looking forward to the next chapter in his cricket journey, revealing it was always his plan to turn his attention towards coaching.
“I was fully aware my international days were most likely over at the end of the last T20 World Cup. My international retirement and coaching has been a constant conversation with George (Bailey) and Andrew (McDonald) over the past six months,” Wade said as quoted by ICC.
“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 excited.” “I will continue to play BBL (Big Bash League) and the odd franchise league over the summer months but around those commitments as a player, I am investing heavily in my coaching.”
“As my international career closes, I want to thank all of my Australian teammates, staff and coaches. I enjoyed the ride as challenging as it can be at an international level. Without good people around me I would have never got as much out of myself as I did,” he added. (ANI)