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Injury leads to batting boost for Wade

Leading JLT Sheffield Shield run-scorer set to move up the order as he looks to continue push for Test recall

Skipper Matthew Wade has a chance to press his Ashes claims as a specialist batsman with a move up the order for Tasmania on the cards this weekend.

Former Test wicketkeeper Wade has plundered runs in both the JLT Sheffield Shield and KFC BBL this season, but it hasn't led to a national call-up.

Domestic Player of the Year: Matthew Wade

Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said in January that Wade needs to bat higher at first-class level to be considered for a Test berth as a specialist batter.

Earlier this month, Wade said he wouldn’t move up the order just to enhance his own personal ambition of returning to the Test side.

But with veteran George Bailey sidelined due to a shoulder injury suffered in the Hobart Hurricanes' BBL semi-final defeat last week, Wade will take the opportunity to move up from No.6 when the Shield resumes this weekend.

"The situation probably dictates that I need to go up and take a bit more responsibility for the team. I'll do that," he said after Bailey, who has batted at No.5 this season, was ruled out.

"I've batted (at number) three for Victoria a couple of times. It doesn't worry me too much.

"Whether it's four or five, I'm not 100 per cent sure yet."

Wade is the leading Shield run-scorer this season with 571 and scored he also 592 runs for the Hurricanes in the BBL, second behind opening partner D'Arcy Short.

Tasmania is second-last on the Shield ladder but are within striking distance of the top two with four games to play, starting on Saturday against South Australia at the Adelaide Oval.

Wade will also relinquish the gloves to returning Test captain Tim Paine and hopes the break for the BBL can help his side iron out some patchy form.

"It does feel like a new season, which is a good thing. You can re-boot and go again," he said.

"We need to win some games. We've had opportunities to win games, but we haven't taken them like we did last year."

Wade said he'd moved on from the Hurricanes' BBL semi-final loss to the Melbourne Stars.

"We got outplayed. If we had played our worst game ... really mucked it up, I would have been a bit more disappointed."