Australian cricketer Matthew Wade has announced his first-class retirement, with next week’s Sheffield Shield final in Perth set to be his last red-ball match.
The Tasmanian wicketkeeper made his first-class debut in 2007, compiling 9183 runs at 40.81 with 19 hundreds and 54 fifties. He has also taken 442 catches and completed 21 stumpings in 165 matches.
Wade won four Sheffield Shield titles during his ten-year tenure with Victoria, including two triumphs as captain, before moving back to Tasmania ahead of the 2017/18 season.
The 36-year-old also represented Australia in 36 Tests following his debut in 2012, scoring 1613 runs at 29.87 with four hundreds, including two centuries during the 2019 Ashes campaign in England.
Watch every match of the 2024 IPL Season LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >
Wade informed his Tasmanian teammates of his decision ahead of last week’s match against South Australia in Hobart.
“Firstly, I would like to thank my family, my wife Julia, and kids Winter, Goldie, and Duke, for the sacrifices they have made throughout my career, as I travelled Australia and the world as a red ball cricketer,” Wade said in a statement.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges that the long-form game provides, and although I will continue to play white-ball cricket, wearing the baggy green while playing for my country remains a highlight of my career.
“I am grateful to all of my teammates throughout my career, along with Cricket Victoria for providing me with the foundations to grow as a first-class cricketer, and Cricket Tasmania for supporting me in finishing my career as a cricketer in my home state.”
Wade will continue to play white-ball cricket for Tasmania, Australia and the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League. He is expected to don the gloves for Australia at this year’s T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States of America.
“I would like to personally thank and congratulate Matthew for all he has done for Tasmania and Australia in red ball cricket, he was always professional, and never shied away from the contest,” Tasmanian coach Jeff Vaughan said in a statement.
“While his career with our Shield squad may be coming to an end, we look forward to still having him around our group in white ball cricket for the coming years playing for the Tigers, and in purple for the Hurricanes.
“We hope that we can help send him off with a win in the Sheffield Shield Final next week, and we know that he has given his all for our badge every time he played for Tasmania.”
Wade chose to miss the start of the Indian Premier League to participate in next week’s Sheffield Shield final against Western Australia at the WACA. The hosts are hoping to secure a three-peat of titles, while Tasmania has not won the first-class competition since 2012/13.
The Sheffield Shield final gets underway on Thursday, March 21.