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Wade to carry Hughes with him forever

Victorious Bushrangers captain explains genesis of tattoo for his late friend Phillip Hughes

Matthew Wade says a tattoo of his late friend Phillip Hughes provides a constant reminder that there's more to life than cricket.

Wade was one of Hughes's closest friends in the Australian team and the Victoria skipper says the sudden passing of the 25-year-old last November 'hit him pretty hard'.

As a tribute, Wade got an image of Hughes tattooed on his right forearm as a way of carrying his friend with him wherever he goes.

Speaking in Hobart after he captained the Bushrangers to their 29th Sheffield Shield title on Wednesday, Wade says the tattoo helps him put any disappointments on the cricket field - such as his first-ball duck in the first innings of the Shield final - into perspective.

Quick Single: Victoria win 29th Sheffield Shield crown

"Obviously when Hughesy passed away it hit me pretty hard," Wade told cricket.com.au.

"I just want to take him everywhere with me, that's basically why I got it.

"Whether I'm batting in the middle or doing anything, he's there all the time with me now.

"It's a nice reminder when you get a first-baller in a Shield final in the first innings ... that life's too short to worry about little things like that and to just enjoy every moment we have.

"I got it done probably a month after Hughesy passed away.

"I'd been thinking about it for a while. I wanted to have him with me wherever I went."

Wade has performed brilliantly for the Vics this season, scoring 572 runs at 57 as he steered the Bushrangers to their first Shield title since 2010.

It was an incredible turnaround for the Vics after they finished bottom of the table in the Shield last season.

Wade's work with the bat and behind the stumps, as well as his captaincy, has him well placed to be named Brad Haddin's deputy wicketkeeper for Australia's winter tours of the West Indies and England.

The most recent of Wade's 12 Tests came in India just over two years ago, with the left-hander having debuted on Australia's tour of the Caribbean in 2012.

He last played for Australia in the one-day series against South Africa in November, just days before Hughes passed away in Sydney.

On the possibility of a Test recall, Wade said: "Fingers crossed, I've done everything I can this season with the bat and with the gloves, that's all I can control.

"If the selectors pick me now I'll be more than happy to go.

"I've been to the Windies before so I'd love to go back there and hopefully play some cricket for Australia.

"(Winning the Shield title is) definitely one of highlights of my career.

"To finish last last year and come back this year and improve so much and win the Shield, it's definitely one of the highlights of my career."