No more waiting as Matthew Wade wins Ashes squad selection

Finally, after scoring a truckload of runs, Tasmanian skipper Matthew Wade is back in the Australian squad and in the running to help Australia retain the Ashes.

TASMANIAN captain Matthew Wade can have a huge impact on Australia retaining the Ashes after his cricketing resurrection moved closer to completion when he was named in the Australian squad tasked with retaining the Ashes.

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Simple weight of runs has seen the tough left-hander smash down the selectors’ door.

The 31-year-old’s international career was seen as dead after being dropped from the national team after the tour of Bangladesh back in September 2017.

Wade joins Test skipper Tim Paine in the squad, but Tigers’ seamer Jackson Bird missed the cut.

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Matthew Wade, left, and fellow Tasmanian Tim Paine during the Australian practice game this week. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty

Tigers coach Adam Griffith said Wade could be more much than just a reserve batsman throughout the series given his experience and success on the often bowler-friendly Blundstone Arena pitch.

“He can tough through a really hard period out in the middle and then he can reap the benefits later and go hard,” Griffith said.

“How many times did we see him over the past couple of years on a green wicket here get through the first two sessions and then cash in after tea and get a hundred?

“That’s how you can play cricket in England.

“If he gets the opportunity he can have a great impact on the team.

“He deserves his opportunity and I really hope he gets the chance to play and show the world how good he is.”

Matthew Wade continued his rich vein for form for the Tigers when he belted numerous centuries for Australia A during their England tour. Picture: GETTY

A return to Tasmania two years ago and a Sheffield Shield season that returned more than 1000 runs at an average of 60, a red hot Big Bash League with the Hurricanes and similar form on the Australian A tour of England has seen Wade storm back into a stunning Test return.

Wade returned to Hobart from Victoria for family reasons and a desire to represent Australia again and it is for this reason that Griffith believes is behind his run glut.

“It was always there in the background, and that is potentially why he is playing as well as he is because he wasn’t engulfed by it, it didn’t consume him,” he said.

“He was playing cricket because he loved playing cricket.

“He was relaxed and it showed in his performances.

“He’s got a clear head and a simple game plan at the moment and it is working well for him.”