Ahead of Australia’s Test series against South Africa, Matthew Wade was dropped from the side. Although the event will no longer go ahead due to non-cricketing reasons, the decision to axe the 33-year-old has cast doubt over the Baggy Greens’ opening line-up. In their most recent series against India, Wade initially opened the batting, but fell further down the order towards the contest’s conclusion. So, where does that leave Wade, and what does it mean for Australia’s future batting order?
Dropped From the Test Team
When India travelled to Australia for their highly-anticipated Test series in December 2020, many expected a close contest. However, numerous big-name absences from the visitors’ side, including Virat Kohli, handed Justin Langer’s team the advantage. Despite that, Australia failed to capitalise and subsequently lost the series.
Alongside Joe Burns, Wade opened the batting for Australia. Unfortunately, he failed to show his high-level talent. In the first innings of the series, he was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for just eight runs off 51 balls. Things didn’t get much better for the 33-year-old as the clash progressed, as he failed to hit a half-century as an opener in the first two Tests.
After his uninspiring opening performances coincided with David Warner and Will Pucovski returning, Wade batted at five in the third Test. Lower down the order, he scored a combined 17 runs as India took the series to a last-Test decider. Despite hitting 45 in the first innings of the final match, he followed that up with zero from five deliveries in the decisive final batting phase.
Prior to the series, Wade had the backing of Langer, and one below-par display is unlikely to have changed the coach’s long-term thinking. Although he’s not a natural opener, he did get out to some soft dismissals, which ultimately contributed to the decision to drop him for the now-cancelled series with Sri Lanka.
Competition for Places
As touched on above, the left-handed batsman has never been a regular opening batsman. Because of that, it’s unlikely that he’ll target a place at the top of the order for the Baggy Greens. However, concerning a spot in the side, there’s plenty of competition for places. David Warner is one of the finest openers in cricket, so, when fit, he’ll likely be selected. Additionally, both Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne appear nailed on for the upcoming Ashes series.
Subsequently, that doesn’t leave a great deal of room for Wade. Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, and Moises Henrique will likely compete for the sixth spot, while Marcus Harris and Pucovski will also be in contention for top and middle-order places.
Like many Australian cricketers, Wade will be dreaming of selection for the 2021-22 Ashes series against England. One thing that may work in his favour is that, back in the 2019 Ashes tour, he hit a combined total of 337 runs, showcasing his ability to score consistently against England’s bowlers. As of February 4th, the Baggy Greens are 8/15 in cricket betting to win the upcoming Ashes series, although it’s currently unclear if Wade will make the team.
Is it Time for the Next Generation?
Ultimately, there are no guarantees that Wade can’t get back into Australia’s Test team. However, at 33, he’s unlikely to be a long-term option, which may encourage Langer to look elsewhere. With such an array of promising options coming through the ranks, Wade faces an uphill task to prove his worth, and he may not get too many more opportunities.
