Matthew Wade hints at retiring from international cricket

There’s not much he hasn’t done in international cricket, and now Matthew Wade can add an IPL title. But what does his future hold? WHAT WADE SAID>>>

Tasmanian batting star Matthew Wade has given his strongest indication yet this upcoming T20 World Cup on home soil could be his swan song after winning yet another tournament.

The devastating left-hander batter was part of the Gujarat Titans that won the IPL on Sunday night in their debut season in front of a world record white ball crowd of 104,000 fans.

Wade was an integral part of Australia’s shock T20 world cup win in the UAE last year and is keen to defend the title at home later this year – but that could be it for the 34-year-old on the international stage.

He will return home to Hobart for two days before heading to Sri Lanka for three T20s for Australia, then will play for Birmingham in The Hundred before preparations begin in earnest for the world cup.

“So pretty much till November is locked in and it is pretty hectic but after that it will free up,” Wade said on SEN WA on Monday.

“I don’t think I’ll be pushing on too far after that at international level, so I’m excited for the next three or four months.

“It is going to be good time in my life and my cricketing life, I’m going to enjoy it for sure.”

Australia's Matthew Wade hits a six during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup semi-final match between Australia and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on November 11, 2021. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

But it understood Wade is keen to play on with the Tigers and Hurricanes post his Australian career and win his first title for his home state after numerous cup wins for Victoria.

Wade has forged an international career for himself across two stages – the first as a wicketkeeper-batter and then in the back half of his career as a specialist bat, scoring two centuries when Australia retained the Ashes in England in 2019.

He had an up and down IPL series, only scoring eight in the final in Ahmedabad as the Titans easily chased down the Rajasthan Royals 9-130 with seven wickets and 11 balls to spare, but contributed a crucial 30-ball 35 in a big run chase in the qualifier to put the Titans in the final.

It will also be a tidy payday for Wade, who went for $446,000 at auction, with the winner’s receiving a $A3.6 million cheque.

Australia v Sri Lanka - T20 Series: Game 5

“It is as close to winning a world cup as you can get,” Wade said.

“As I said 104,000 people, I didn’t think I would ever play in front of that many people.

“(It is a) different kind of feeling to a world cup where you spend a few years trying to build a team to get there but this one has got all the glitz and glamour on it.

“They do it different over in India and they can put on a show that is exactly what happened tonight.”

Hurricanes land two big guns

ELYSE Villani’s leadership, class and experience helped turn the Tigers into a championship team and now the Hurricane’s hope it will be the same for them.

The Mercury understands that Villani and another gun recruit with Tiger ties Heather Graham have agreed to terms with the Hurricanes for the upcoming WBBL season.

While both are huge additions to a Hurricanes side that has struggled, it is Villani who could have the biggest impact on the side.

Elyse Villani of the Tigers celebrates scoring a century during the WNCL match between Tasmania and South Australia at Blundstone Arena on March 27, 2022 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

The 32-year-old former Melbourne Stars opener was a major part in the Tigers securing their first ever trophy, where she not only captained the side but scored an unbeaten century in the successful run-chase over South Australia.

It would appear likely she would be given the reins of the Hurricanes as well.

She will bring a wealth of experience to the top order having played 62 T20 internationals, 34 one-day internationals and three Test matches for Australia.

Villani is far from a spent force, being the fourth highest run-scorer in last summer’s WBBL with 439 runs at 43.9 at a strike rate of 122.

In her last match for the stars, she scored 100 not out from just 65 deliveries against an attack containing Australian frontline bowlers Megan Schutt and Tahlia McGrath.

Graham, 25, will also be a handy addition coming across from the Perth Scorchers.

Heather Graham of the Perth Scorchers bats during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Adelaide Strikers and the Perth Scorchers at Karen Rolton Oval, on November 17, 2021, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

The all-rounder is also a Tigers player, but missed most of last season as part of the Australian one-day squad that won the World Cup in New Zealand.

The Hurricanes finished sixth last season with a 5-8 win-loss record, the fifth straight year they have missed finals.

Originally published as Matthew Wade hints at retiring from international cricket