Hurricanes trade to secure keeper Wade

Matthew Wade's intriguing battle with Tim Paine for the gloves in Tasmania looks set to continue with the Hobart Hurricanes set to have both wicketkeepers on their roster for the upcoming KFC Big Bash League season.

The Hurricanes on Friday confirmed they traded allrounder Beau Webster to the Melbourne Renegades in a straight swap for Wade, who moved back to his native Tasmania after a decade in Victoria over the winter.

Tim Paine, Australia's incumbent Test and T20 wicketkeeper, has impressed for the Hurricanes over recent seasons but could be absent for most of Hobart's BBL|07 campaign given his recent elevation to the Test side.

Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said Hobart were delighted to welcome Wade and suggested the Hurricanes would need a gloveman in vice-captain Paine's likely absence.

"It’s terrific that we’ve been able to secure Matthew for the Hurricanes," Cummins said in a statement.

"He’s obviously part of the Tasmanian Tigers program this season as well so it’s great that he will be playing his cricket in Tasmania full time.

"With Tim being in the national side we’re obviously in need of a wicketkeeper, so when the opportunity to secure Matt’s services came up we were keen to pursue that."

Both Paine and Wade will likely be in the running to be Australia's keeper for the Gillette ODI series that follows the Magellan Ashes.

Renegades coach Andrew McDonald said it made sense for Wade to play for the Hurricanes given he's now based back home on the Apple Isle.

"Matt obviously chose to move back to Tasmania during the off-season for his state cricket and it makes sense that he’ll continue that journey through the BBL as well.

"We’d like to thank Matt for his contribution to the Renegades and wish he and his family well."

McDonald said he was pleased to secure a promising player like Webster as a replacement for Wade.

Webster played five matches for the Hurricanes in BBL|06 and recently struck his maiden List A century while captaining the CA XI in the JLT One-Day Cup.

And McDonald said he was pleased to secure the promising off-spinner and stroke-maker as a replacement for Wade.

“Beau will provide a really good option for our squad," said McDonald.

"He’s an emerging player who has shown great promise throughout the early stages of his career and we’re excited about what he can achieve with the Renegades over the next few years.

"We have a great group of experienced players who I know will be keen to work with Beau in the seasons ahead."

Cummins also believed the deal would prove beneficial for Webster, with the 23-year-old a chance to receive more game time with the Renegades.

“Beau remains a respected member of our state squad. We feel that this trade will be beneficial for him in that he will get some more exposure to Big Bash cricket with the Renegades,” Cummins said.

“We will continue to monitor his T20 development with interest and wish him all the best for BBL|07.”

The Webster-Wade trade is just the third player-for-player swap in the BBL’s short history and Cricket Australia have confirmed it was the only deal completed with the trade period now finished.

The final date for clubs to complete their 18-player squads for this season’s tournament is December 8.

Melbourne Renegades squad: Dwayne Bravo (WI), Tom Cooper, Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, Jon Holland, Tim Ludeman, Joe Mennie, Sunil Narine (WI), James Pattinson, Kane Richardson, Matt Short, Chris Tremain, Cameron White, Beau Webster, Jack Wildermuth.

Hobart Hurricanes squad: George Bailey (c), Jofra Archer (WI), James Bazley, Cameron Boyce, Dan Christian, Hamish Kingston, Ben McDermott, Simon, Milenko, Tymal Mills (Eng), David Moody, Tim Paine, Jake Reed, Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers, Clive Rose, D'Arcy Short, Matthew Wade