Australian star wicket-keeper Matthew Wade announced his retirement from international cricket after playing for 13 years. Wade was a stunning wicketkeeper-batter who played some magnificent knocks for the team throughout his career. Wade started his international career for Australia in the T20I format, debuting in 2011 against South Africa.
A year later, he debuted in the ODI and Test format. While he wasn't a regular player in the squad and had his share of ups and downs, he has been a part of some valuable tournaments. Moreover, he has also played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for a long time. The former Australian player has played 36 Tests, 97 ODIs, and 92 T20Is in his career. He played the last game in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in West Indies.
"I was fully aware my international days were most likely over at the end of the last T20 World Cup. My international retirement and coaching has been a constant conversation with George (Bailey) and Andrew (McDonald) over the past six months. Coaching has been on my radar over the last few years and thankfully some great opportunities have come my way, for which I am very grateful and excited," said Matthew Wade.
Following his cricket career, Wade is set to embark on a new journey as a coach. He will be joining Australia's coaching staff for the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Pakistan. The series starts in November.
I will continue to play BBL: Matthew Wade
After leaving international cricket, Matthew Wade made his fans happy by mentioning that he would be taking part in the franchise leagues and BBL throughout the summer. However, coaching will be his first priority now. Wade's magnificent career and his contributions to the team will be missed in the upcoming series.
"I will continue to play BBL and the odd franchise league over the summer months but around those commitments as a player, I am investing heavily in my coaching. As my international career closes, I want to thank all of my Australian teammates, staff and coaches. I enjoyed the ride as challenging as it can be at international level. Without good people around me I would have never got as much out of myself as I did," said Matthew Wade.
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