Wade could be axed for decisive Tigers Test

Australia

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.

Australia Australia tour to Bangladesh Matthew Wade Steve Smith

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