In the ongoing Test series against India, Australia’s batting is in tatters more often than not and not it’s the high time for the team management to take some harsh calls. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting reckons that the discarded wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade should be included for the fourth Test at Sydney but conceded that the hosts will go with an unchanged line-up.
Wade has not played for Australia in the longest format since September 2017 with the selection committee picking Tim Paine for the Ashes last year. However, Wade is currently leading the run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield, scoring 571 runs from six matches. His form in the Big Bash League (BBL) has also failed to bring him into the contention, having scored 142 runs from three games.
Ponting had pointed out that a few weeks ago for Wade to be installed back in the national team since his form in the first- class cricket and BBL has made him the frontrunner. Australia’s batting order is on the verge of conceding the first ever Test series win to the visitors.
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As per the quotes in cricket.com.au., Ricky said, “For a Test batting spot, I said Matthew Wade a few weeks ago. He’s the form player in the Sheffield Shield, no doubt about that – 571 runs I think he’s made so far. We’ve seen already in the Big Bash League as well that’s he’s in really good touch, and he probably deserves a chance over anybody else right now because he’s simply put the numbers on the board.”
However, the former Aussie skipper has mentioned that the changes might not take place with ongoing BBL in place. He stated that since there is no first-class cricket being played presently, the players cannot be selected based on their form in the T20 extravaganza but only if there are some major injuries in place, the hosts may call in replacements.
Ponting said, “I don’t think they’ll change for next week. One because there’s just not too many batsmen that can come in. And it’s hard as well now with the Big Bash having started that no one’s played any Sheffield Shield cricket over the last few weeks to try to put up a case to get into the side. So there are challenges there. Unless there’s injuries, coming out of the next couple of days, I think they’ll go with a pretty similar side in Sydney.”
