New Zealand v Australia: Matthew Wade ruled out of series with back injury

MATTHEW Wade’s back injury is worse than first thought, with the wicketkeeper ruled out of Australia’s one-day tour of New Zealand.

MATTHEW Wade’s involvement in Australia’s daunting four-Test tour of India is under serious threat with the wicketkeeper’s back injury proving more serious than first thought.

Wade was a late scratching from Monday's series-opening one-day match against New Zealand, having picked up the complaint at training on Sunday.

But having initially been confident of returning for games two and three of the ODI series, Wade has now been sent back to Melbourne for further treatment on the injury.

The Test series begins in Pune in three weeks, with Wade’s injury a nightmare scenario for selectors — who already have captain Steve Smith working around the clock to recover from an ankle ligament injury.

Wade his entrenched himself as a key figure within the Australian leadership group since his recall halfway through the summer.

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Matthew Wade has been ruled out of the second one-dayer against New Zealand.

While Wade is racing the clock to be fit for the first Test — let alone the warm-up game against India A in a fortnight, starting February 16 — he remains confident.

“It’s not a major injury but with the short turnaround between matches and the four-and-a-half hour journey by bus to Hamilton for the next match, it’s been decided it’s best for me to go home and get some treatment in Melbourne,” Wade said.

“With Dubai and then India I’d say I’d definitely be right for that.

“I’ll get that bit of treatment in Melbourne and we’re hopeful it’ll be fine by Sunday or Monday and I can be on a flight to Dubai and start training pretty much as soon as I hit the ground there.”

Added team doctor John Orchard: “We are hopeful this injury will settle down relatively quickly and that he will be able to participate in (the Indian) tour without any issues.

In that best-case scenario, Wade would join members of the 16-man squad who are already bunkered down in an attempt to acclimatise to the subcontinental conditions.

But should he continue to struggle, NSW gloveman Peter Nevill would be a strong favourite to earn a recall — having been dumped from the Test team after the Hobart horror show.

Wade will not be replaced in the Australian squad, with Peter Handscomb set to take the gloves again in the second and third ODIs.

Peter Handscomb will assume Wade’s responsibility behind the stumps.

Aaron Finch, who became Australia’s 24th ODI captain when he took the reins at the last minute on Monday, will skipper the remaining games in Napier and Hamilton.

“It’s heartbreaking I couldn’t take the field as captain but it has been a real honour to have been appointed captain and to be able to lead the group in the time I’ve been here in New Zealand,” Wade said.

“And after all, it’s all about the team, it’s not about me.

“Hopefully we can win the next two games and win the series.”

At Wednesday morning’s training session, Wade was restricted to walking laps while Handscomb worked on his glovework with the help of Brad Haddin.

Haddin is serving as an assistant coach during the series, with regular support staff already in Dubai.

Originally published as New Zealand v Australia: Matthew Wade ruled out of series with back injury