The case for Wade
In the Sydney Morning Herald, Jesse Hogan argues that Matthew Wade's recall to the ODI side is warranted despite his recent poor form with the bat
30-Oct-2014
Matthew Wade is temporarily back in Australia's one-day squad, despite a poor Matador Cup with the bat, because if Brad Haddin is missing at any stage from now to the end of the World Cup he is the safest replacement as wicketkeeper, writes Jesse Hogan in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Arguably the most credible candidate to fill in for Haddin for the first two one-dayers, based on Matador Cup form, was Ben Dunk. The Tasmanian belted 403 runs at an average of 67.17 and a strike-rate of 109.21, including a record innings of 229 not out off 157 deliveries. He has, however, been playing as a specialist batsman. While it is right to give him a chance for Australia in Twenty20, especially as he is a legitimate contender to succeed Haddin in that format, it is a bridge too far to bring someone who has been playing as a specialist batsman straight in to be Australia's one-day gloveman, even just for two matches. When it comes to career domestic one-day averages and strike-rates Wade's - 38.95 and 84.14 - is the best of all the available glovemen