Matthew Wade announces retirement from the longest format of the game

Matthew Wade, the veteran Australia wicketkeeper-batter, announced his decision to retire from red-ball cricket. However, Wade, who postponed his arrival at the Indian Premier League (IPL) to take part in the Shield final with his home team Tasmania, informed his state teammates about his decision just before the clash against South Australia.

Matthew Wade can play in the T20 World Cup

“I would like to thank my family, my wife Julia, and kids Winter, Goldie, and Duke, for the sacrifices they have made throughout my career, as I travelled Australia and the world as a red-ball cricketer,” Wade said in a statement.

However, Matthew Wade will continue to play the white-ball format, and there is a chhance for him to represent Australia in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June in the West Indies and USA. The veteran keeper-batter was named stand-in captain during the recent New Zealand series for the final T20I in Mitch Marsh’s absence and he led in the five-match T20I series against India last year after their Cricket World Cup win as well.

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After winning the New Zealand T20I series 3-0, he also expressed his excitement to be part of the T20 World Cup squad as well.

“It’s an exciting time to be in the T20 squad, and I can’t wait to get started at the World Cup, to be honest,” Wade said.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges” – Matthew Wade

However, the 36-year-old was part of Australia’s squad that won the T20 World Cup in 2021, putting in a Player of the Match performance in the semi-final against Pakistan where he smashed 41* off 17 balls to help his side win. Notably, Matthew Wade made his debut for Australia in Tests in 2012, appearing in 36 matches between 2012 and 2021, scoring 1613 runs that also included four centuries.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges that the long-form game provides, and although I will continue to play white ball cricket, wearing the Baggy Green while playing for my country remains a highlight of my career. Not playing the longer format of the game will give me an opportunity to get stronger, get in the gym a bit more and have some longevity in that format,” Matthew Wade concluded.