Wade could be axed for decisive Tigers Test
Australia captain Steve Smith hinted that the Aussies could drop wicketkeeper Matthew Wade for the second Test against Bangladesh, starting in Chittagong on Monday.
The Aussies, who lost the first Test in Dhaka by 20 runs, need to win the second and final Test to salvage a draw in the two-match series.
The composition of the visitors’ starting team has been a major talking point in the build-up to the second match with Wade in the firing line.
The left-handed Wade could only muster single figure scores of five and four in his two innings in Dhaka and the Australia skipper admitted they expected more from the keeper with the willow in hand.
There is no reserve keeper in the Australia’s squad in Bangladesh but batsman Peter Handscomb, who has on occasion stood keeper for Victoria in domestic cricket, could don the gloves in a one-off situation as the Aussies search for the right balance to draw the series.
ALSO READ: Healy: Giving Handscomb the gloves would be a mistake
Smith told reporters on Sunday: “It certainly would be a tough call (on Wade). I think when we are looking at Matty we just need a little bit more from him with the bat in particular.
“And he knows this, he knows that he has to do a little bit better with the bat. And he’s had those conversations. So it’ll just depend which way we want to go on the balance of the team as well.
“(Handscomb) certainly has kept and we’ve seen him keep before and he’s done a good job, so, if we go that way we are confident that he will do a good job.”
If the Aussies get beaten in the final Test against the Tigers they will slip from fourth to sixth in the ICC Test rankings.
Latest
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.