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Wade not fussed over missed BBL wicketkeeping chance

Hobart Hurricanes captain and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade says the decision to keep him away from the gloves on Wednesday night was a joint one, with his focus now solely on a chance at the BBL|11 title

Matthew Wade has shut down claims he and Hobart coach Adam Griffith are split over the decision to take the wicketkeeping role off him ahead of the BBL|11 finals.

The Hurricanes need to pull off a remarkable turnaround in Friday night's eliminator against the Adelaide Strikers after their "embarrassing" flogging by 106 runs at the hands of Glenn Maxwell and the Melbourne Stars on Wednesday night.

But captain Wade is also aware rumours are swirling of a split between he and coach Griffith, with Australia's T20 wicketkeeper in the field and not behind the stumps.

The Hurricanes have insisted the decision allows Wade to work closer with inexperienced bowlers as the team's captain at mid-off, and that he is happy with the call.

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Wade backed the verdict on Thursday, with the issue top of agenda ahead of Friday's elimination final.

"It's not Griffo against me here. I'm captain. He's coach. We've made a decision that it's best for the team," Wade said on Thursday.

"I was hearing some things last night and I read a little bit into today. I just want to clear that all up. 

"It's a decision that me and Griffo made. 

"I would prefer to wicketkeep. I am the T20 keeper for Australia. I was going to keep for the tournament. 

"Mentally keeping, captaining and batting in the top three, it takes its toll over a long tournament."

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Wade said Griffith had spoken to Australia's selectors about the decision to hand Ben McDermott the gloves, and they also had no issue.

The Hurricanes captain insists he is also not fussed about his side’s 106-run thumping from the Stars ruining their momentum before a finals series where they will need to win four straight to lift the trophy.

Hurricanes players have described Glenn Maxwell's record 154 not out as the best knock they have seen, while the Stars' 2-273 was the highest total in the BBL competition.

But the Hurricanes have taken solace in the fact they rested their three frontline quicks - Scott Boland, Riley Meredith and Tom Rogers - to ensure they would all be fit come finals.

The Hurricanes will however lose Sandeep Lamichhane to Nepal duties, after he was one of eight Hurricanes bowlers to go at more than 10 an over in Wednesday night's drubbing.

Wade said he had no regrets over the decision to rest the quicks with his side’s first BBL|11 final at the forefront of his mind.

"Last night wasn't ideal. It was embarrassing," Wade said.

"(But) if we lost one of (the three quicks) and we had to roll into a final with a bit of a made-up team, then I'd be pretty flat the morning after.

"So we're pretty confident that we made the right decision by leaving those boys out."