WI vs AUS: Matthew Wade willing to take on the leadership role in the absence of Finch
Matthew Wade is expected to take on the leadership role for Australia in the absence of their first-choice captain Aaron Finch in the ODI series against West Indies. Finch most probably won’t be available for the 50-over format due to a knee injury he suffered in the fifth and final match of the T20I series against hosts West Indies.
Finch, Mitchell Marsh, and Wade were the three bright spots for the Australian team in their otherwise dismal outing in the T20I series. The visitors lost four matches and only won one due to Marsh’s all-around brilliance in both batting and bowling departments of the game. Throughout the series, it was the home team’s batting line-up that prevailed over Australia.
But the ODI is a different format and is Australia’s stronger suit compared to the other two formats. Although the Men in Yellow would have wanted Finch to open the innings, he seemed to be in searing pain while running between the wickets, after he twisted the ankle. Wade is willing to step as a leader and the batter in the three-match ODI series against West Indies.
“It’s a bit of a moving thing, the vice-captaincy. Going forward in the one-dayers I have no idea what will happen there. I am probably not expecting to play, especially if Finchy plays, but if he doesn’t there might be an opportunity for me to play,” cricket.com.au quoted Wade as saying.
“I came over here thinking I would play the T20s and I wouldn’t play the ODIs. I think some of the younger guys would get some opportunities to play them which is fair enough, I’ve been around a long time now. But if Finchy doesn’t come up there might be an opportunity to play, so we’ll wait and see,” he added.
Matthew Wade on different leaders Australia have got in the squad
Apart from Wade, there are Moises Henriques, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, who the wicketkeeper-batter feels are good as leaders too.
Wade has not been part of the ODI setup for Australia, as the team has preferred Alex Carey for the last two years. He though stepped up as a leader for Finch when he missed one T20I game last summer.
“I love to captain whenever I get an opportunity. I captained in the T20s (against India last summer), and we’ve got plenty of different leaders here,” said Wade.
“Moises is a really good leader, Adam Zampa is getting better and better, ‘Starcy’ and ‘Hoff’ (Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood) go about their thing,” Wade concluded.
