Wicketkeeper to go under the knife on Tuesday after suffering broken collarbone while batting
Wade set to undergo shoulder surgery
Victoria captain and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is expected to miss six weeks with a fractured collarbone he sustained on the morning of the Bushrangers' Sheffield Shield match on Saturday.
Wade underwent surgery on Tuesday and is eyeing a return to cricket after Christmas.
The 27-year-old was struck on the right shoulder batting in the nets moments before the scheduled start of the Shield clash against Western Australia at the MCG.
WATCH: Wonderful Wade rescues Australia
Australia's limited-overs 'keeper was immediately taken to hospital where scans revealed a fractured right clavicle, forcing the Bushrangers to make a last-minute substitution which saw youngster Aaron Ayre make his first-class debut behind the stumps.
The blow will rule Wade out of Victoria's remaining two Sheffield Shield matches this year and the Melbourne Renegades opening pair of games against the Brisbane Heat (December 19) the Sydney Sixers (December 23).
The December 30 contest against reigning champions Perth Scorchers looms as Wade's comeback match, giving the left-hander four BBL games to prepare for the Victoria Bitter ODI Series against India, which begins in Perth on January 12.
Wade was in superb touch for Australia in their one-day international series win over England in September.
Batting down the order, Wade averaged 82 in the five-match series and smashed a 26-ball half-century in Australia's three-wicket loss in Headingley.
WATCH: Wade smashes rapid half-century
The Renegades' roster boasts Australia's two premier wicketkeepers, but with Wade's injury and Nevill's Test duties, the men in red are now in the hunt for an extra gloveman.
Wade joins John Hastings on the sidelines after the hulking allrounder injured his shoulder in bizarre fashion in the lead up to the Bushrangers' Sheild clash against NSW Blues at the SCG.
"He's a big man and he took a big swing," Victoria coach David Saker said on how Hasting's suffered the injury.
"I was throwing to him and he said 'I just hurt my shoulder, I think it just popped out'.
"I said stop batting but he said 'I should be okay' and he just kept batting, but then it became a bit too bad.
"I've never seen it before."