Matthew Wade misses Cricket Australia contract for 2016-17 season
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Downgraded: Victorian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade has missed out on a Cricket Australia contract
Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade faces an uncertain international future after missing out on a Cricket Australia contract despite the full quota of 20 players being rewarded for the 2016-17 season. There were several talking points but no surprises in the list announced, which rewarded the new generation of players who returned Australia to the top of the Test rankings and continued the team’s strong form in the 50-over arena. Eyebrows have been raised at paceman Pat Cummins’ re-signing after another injury-interrupted year but the prodigiously talented 22-year-old is firmly in selectors’ plans in all three forms of the game.
Veteran quick Peter Siddle was one of seven players not on last year’s list to collect the minimum $270,000 retainer, in a sign he remains a Test contender despite nursing a long-term injury. Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns and Peter Nevill, all part of Australia’s new wave of Test talent, are among those earning their first central contracts. Khawaja joins Steve Smith, David Warner and Mitchell Starc at the top end of CA’s pay scale after a red-letter summer with the red and white balls, while Nathan Lyon will also be handsome rewarded. There was also joy for limited-overs specialist John Hastings, who was seemingly on the outer 12 months ago but has been rewarded for his excellent form with the white ball in the past six months.
But there was no room for Wade, whose omission from the contract list for the second year running follows his 11th-hour dumping from Australia’s Twenty20 side. Concerns remain over Wade’s glovework and his batting, which was his strong suit compared to other wicketkeepers in the country, has also dipped. The 28-year-old was Australia’s first choice stumper in all forms three years ago but has now been overtaken by Nevill in Tests and Twenty20s. With an average of 16 in his last two series, Wade is at risk of the same happening in the 50-over game if he has another lean campaign in the tri-series tournament in the West Indies – the last event to fall under the current contract period.
Despite being one of Australia’s best players in the World T20, leg-spinner Adam Zampa could not force his way in. His modest first-class numbers and Australia’s reluctance to pick a frontline slow bowler in ODIs did not help his cause.
Australia host South Africa and Pakistan in Tests next summer, either side of tours of Sri Lanka and India. The next major goal for the one-day side will be the Champions Trophy next year in England. ”The Australian team is set to embark on another busy year of international cricket and we believe the players chosen in this group are those that are right in contention to represent the country over the next 12 months,” chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said.
“There is a lot of talent within this group and we have confidence that the players chosen can be successful in all three forms of the game, against a range of opposition, in a variety of conditions. Following a number of high-profile retirements, we believe this group of players gives us a healthy blend of youth and experience to represent Australia at the highest level, allowing us the best chance of maintaining our No.1 rankings in Test and ODI cricket, as well as improving our performances in the T20 format.” Contract list: Steve Smith, David Warner, George Bailey, Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges.
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