The tiny seaside town that forged Australia’s Ashes duo

Tasmania’s Ashes squad duo go all the way back to taped tennis balls and backyard cricket.

IN the tiny seaside town of Lauderdale started a backyard game that would go all the way to the Ashes.

Terrina Street, Lauderdale, might seem the unlikely breeding ground for Australian Test cricketers, but that is exactly what has transpired as the national skipper Tim Paine battled day and night against Matthew Wade with a taped up tennis ball.

Wade was selected alongside Paine in the Australian Test squad charged with retaining the Ashes starting on Thursday.

Matthew Wade and Tim Paine during the Australian practice match before the announcement of the Ashes squad. Picture: GETTY

Scott Wade, Matthew’s dad, was witness to many of the epic battles when his son and Paine were in their early teenage years, as the venue was the home of Scott’s sister, Lisa Matthews.

“It was pretty competitive,” Scott said.

“It was like a little 12-13m pitch, and I do remember Tim in particular up to the stumps and they were bowling full pelt and Tim would take the ball so cleanly as a little kid behind the stumps.”

Matthew Wade’s parents Karen and Scott Wade. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Scott, a former Hawthorn and Tasmanian footballer, said Matthew’s return to international cricket after appearing to have a black line through his name has made all the family, mother Karen and elder sisters Rebecca and Jessica, proud as punch.

He thought he was no chance when axed as the Test wicketkeeper for Paine before the 2017-18 Ashes series in Australia.

But the sheer number of runs Matthew made could not be ignored any longer.

“My understanding is he’s been picked as a batsman,” Scott said.

“So what I’m proud of is how unique that is, for someone to concentrate only on their batting when you have previously played as a wicketkeeper and to make it back into the national side.”