Wade tunes out as 'keeping debate rages

Matthew Wade can't help but let slip a half-smile at the glaring irony.

During his first incarnation as Australia's Test wicketkeeper from 2012-13, he regularly found himself in the crosshairs of countless critics who bayed that the then Victorian gloveman was much more reliable with bat in hand than with ball in gloves.

Since being recalled to the national team a year ago, as much for his combative character as for his technical skill set, Wade has shown himself to be a more accomplished keeper but now finds himself under siege from those who question his batting acumen.

There's no question that the left-hander, who this summer returns to his native Tasmania after 10 seasons with the Bushrangers, can bat.

Just ask the bowling brigade from New Town in Hobart's Premier Cricket competition who last weekend watched Wade belt 111 from just 105 balls as an opener for Clarence in his first re-appearance at the club where he initially played first-grade as a 14-year-old around the turn of this century.

But those who champion the cause of other keepers for the coming Magellan Ashes campaign against England will note that his New South Wales rival Peter Nevill – who lost his place to Wade after Australia's humbling defeat to South Africa in Hobart last November – is also adept as a batsman.

And Nevill, who finished the previous Sheffield Shield season with three centuries and a batting average of 56.82 for the Blues, was also among the runs at the weekend.

He scored 130 from a comparatively sedate 166 balls playing for Eastern Suburbs against Hawkesbury in the NSW Premier Cricket competition.

If the ceaseless speculation about the security of his tenure behind the stumps at Test level irritates Wade, the 29-year-old who is renowned for getting into the ear (and under the skin) of on-field opponents isn’t about to let on.

"I haven't been paying a lot of attention," Wade told cricket.com.au when asked if he followed the spirited public debate as to who should take the gloves come the first Ashes Test at the Gabba starting November 23.

"I don’t tend to read the paper all that much these days and I’ve deleted Facebook.

"Instagram’s about the only thing I’m still running at the moment, so I don’t listen too much.

"I'm the current one-day and Test 'keeper - I want to be there, I feel like I will be there but that’s for other people really to scrutinise and have a chat over.

"I’ve just got to focus on playing good cricket and trying to win games for Tassie, and I feel like if I do that then the performances will come forward."

Wade doesn't need to be trawling the sports pages to know there is intense competition for his job, not only from Nevill but others including promising young South Australia keeper Alex Carey who is touted as a future national representative.

But the incumbent can also point to the history books, which show that the 263 runs at 21.92 (including a solitary half-century) that he's managed in 10 Tests since his recall does not stack up too shabbily alongside Nevill's 240 runs at 21.82 (with a single half-century) in the 10 matches before he was axed.

Those same statistical archives also reveal that after 22 Test appearances for Australia, Wade has scored more runs than had former Test keeper and vice-captain Ian Healy at the same stage of his celebrated career.

And that only Adam Gilchrist, widely regarded as the pre-eminent keeper-batsman that Australia has produced, had scored more Test centuries (three) than Wade's current return of two from 22 matches in the longest format of the game.

"It's funny how three years ago I couldn’t catch the ball apparently, and now I’m a good 'keeper and I can’t bat, so it changes every year," Wade reflected.

"I don’t know if they (critics) underrate me, but it is what it is.

"People are open to their own opinions, but that doesn’t really worry me too much.

"It's more about internally and what I can do to win games. 

"I play the game to win, and I don’t play for individual accolades - although of course you want to be scoring runs and doing everything you can, but it’s about trying to win games for Australia.

"And if I’m in a team that’s winning, I obviously am a lot more comfortable."

Wade's next chance to quell the critics will come at the WACA Ground in Perth, where the Tasmanian Tigers will tackle The Alcohol. Think Again Western Warriors in the opening round of the JLT Sheffield Shield competition beginning on Thursday.

He is one of two Test-capped keepers in the Tasmania squad, along with Tim Paine who wore the Baggy Green four times in 2010 before he sustained a serious finger injury.

Having spent four of the past eight months keeping on low, challenging sub-continent pitches in India (for Tests and a recent limited-overs series) and Bangladesh (two Tests), Wade is relishing the opportunity to not only make his first Shield outing for Tasmania.

But also to keep wickets at a venue that is renowned for the pace and bounce its pitch offers to bowlers.

"It's nice to be home," Wade said.

"Obviously we’ve just had a long stint (in India) so to come home and play some long-format cricket is going to be good."

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21