Wade Keeps Gloves As Australia Name Test Squad

Wade Keeps Gloves As Australia Name Test Squad

Matthew Wade will play in the first Test at Brisbane having been preferred to Brad Haddin

©REUTERS / Action Images

Australia have opted to retain Matthew Wade as their Test wicket-keeper ahead of the opening match against South Africa, which begins in Brisbane on 9th November.

Wade travelled to the West Indies and made his Test debut with Brad Haddin absent due to personal circumstances, and he has made enough of a case to be retained in the team.

With Ryan Harris out injured, Peter Siddle and James Pattinson return to the 12-man squad having themselves recovered from injury.

Talking about the decision to retain Wade at the expense of Haddin, National Selector John Inverarity said: "Matthew came into the Australian ODI team in February and has since acquitted himself especially well.

"Matthew and Brad both went to the West Indies; Matthew as our preferred ODI and T20 player and Brad as our incumbent and preferred Test match ‘keeper. As is widely known Brad returned to Australia early in the tour due to family circumstances and as a consequence Matthew was our Test ‘keeper for the three Test matches.

"He kept and batted very well and made a match-defining brilliant century in the second innings of the Third and final Test against West Indies.

"Since then he has played and gained valuable experience in England, the UAE and Sri Lanka. As a young player, getting better by the month, he is thoroughly deserving of his retention."

It will be Wade's first Test on home soil as his previous three matches all came in the Caribbean.

The first Test is followed by matches in Adelaide and Perth from 22nd and 30th November respectively.

Australia Test squad: Michael Clarke (captain), Shane Watson (vice-captain), Ed Cowan, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mike Hussey, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

© Cricket World 2012