Ian Healy says Matthew Wade capable of playing as specialist batsman in Ashes

England have shown making room for two wicketkeepers in their Test team can work and Ian Healy is confident Australia could enjoy the same success if they picked Matthew Wade for the Ashes.

Matthew Wade is pushing hard for an Ashes berth.

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Wicketkeeping great Ian Healy says Matthew Wade is capable of becoming the first Aussie gloveman to play as a specialist batsman in nearly 40 years.

Not since Richie Robinson toured England in 1972 as a specialist batsman has Australia dared the outlandish move, but Healy has declared he would consider Wade as ‘the swing man’ for the coming Ashes series.

Wade is in the midst of a golden summer with the bat where he tops the Sheffield Shield scoring at the halfway point of the season and is the second highest run-scorer in the Big Bash League.

Matthew Wade is pushing hard for an Ashes berth.

The 31-year-old has grown increasingly frustrated at his recent omissions from Australian squads and was recently told by National Selector Trevor Hohns that he must bat higher up the Tasmanian order if he wanted to be considered as a specialist batsman.

However, Healy has urged selectors to consider the fact that Australia’s nowhere man could be suited for two roles in the Ashes squad.

Australia always takes two keepers to England, and there is a theory that by taking Wade as the reserve gloveman, it could have the dual benefit of essentially buying selectors another batting option.

England have picked wicketkeepers Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow as specialist batsmen, and Healy insists the door should not be shut on Wade.

“I was reluctant to say that until I spoke with (former Australian star) John Hastings who unconditionally says, yes,” said Healy.

Matthew Wade is enjoying an excellent BBL campaign.

“His fielding is fine. His ability to get in the field and adjust from the gloves is fine. So, yep, I’m going with that. He can be around the scene for Test cricket as a batsman.”

Healy is firm in his endorsement of Alex Carey as the No.2 keeper in Australia in both formats, to the point he has him locked in as the World Cup gloveman despite the immense pressure being applied by Wade.

The theory in taking Wade as the back-up Ashes keeper is based on squad flexibility and not a knock on Carey’s standing as the heir apparent to Tm Paine.

Carey is yet to make a one-day half century in nine matches, but Healy said Australia needed to show faith for the World Cup.

“I’m all about loving who you have selected and then that means they take a long time not to be selected,” said Healy.

Ian Healy still sees Alex Carey as clearly the No.2 behind Tim Paine.

“I would have Alex Carey locked in, yes. My personal mantra (is show faith, but) with a high level of pressure behind him from Matthew Wade.”

The other position where Australia may look to defer from tradition when picking their Ashes squad, is with the all-rounder spots.

Shane Watson and Mitchell Marsh were part of the last Ashes squad in 2015, but if there are no outstanding candidates for this winter, do selectors simply use those positions to take an extra batsman or a bowler who can bat like James Pattinson or Michael Neser?

Originally published as Ian Healy says Matthew Wade capable of playing as specialist batsman in Ashes