Australian wicket-keeper batsman Matthew Wade has been chosen as the captain of the Australian ODI side when it tours New Zealand. According to a media release, he was appointed as the captain of the side after his name was recommended for the post by Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel (NSP). This recommendation was supported by Cricket Australia’s Board Of Directors.
The regular skipper Steve Smith suffered an ankle injury during the final ODI against Pakistan in Adelaide on Thursday. And this made way for Wade who would also be Australia’s 24th ODI captain.
The matches against the Kiwis are set to take place in Auckland (30 January), Napier (2 February) and Hamilton (5 February). As Smith’s replacement, 21-year-old batsman Sam Heazlett, who plays for Queensland and the Big Bash side Brisbane Heat, has been given a call-up to Australia’s ODI outfit. Cricket Australia’s interim selector, Trevor Honhs said, “We had a few options as captain in the absence of Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner but Matthew Wade was the logical option given his leadership experience with Victoria and the fact he is very much a leader within the group already.”
The National Selection Panel comprises Trevor Hohns (Interim Chairman), Greg Chappell, Darren Lehmann and Mark Waugh. On David Warner, who is Smith’s deputy, not being selected as the skipper in the absence of the right-hander, Trevor said, “We did discuss the situation with David Warner, but after doing so, the NSP made the decision that it was in his best interests and in the best interests of the team that we continued with our original plan to give him a break for this series. That was our call and, that way, we will ensure David is fresh and ready to go in the build-up to the Test series in India that follows.”
Heazlett, who is set to make his debut against the World Cup finalists, earned the praise of the interim Chairman of selectors, who said, “With Steve not fit to play we have taken the opportunity to introduce another exciting young player to the Australian team environment and international cricket by including Sam Heazlett. Sam showed last summer what a talented player he is by averaging over 40 in his debut season at first-class level and he impressed again when playing for the National Performance Squad against A teams from Australia, South Africa and India in Townsville and Mackay during this past winter.”
Wade also scored his maiden ODI hundred against Pakistan and displayed prolific wicket-keeping skills in the ODI series against the same opposition. He was over the moon on his appointment as the skipper of the ODI side and this is what he had to say, “Being asked to captain Australia is obviously not something I was expecting and it is still sinking in, but I am hugely honoured by the decision of the selectors and the Board of Directors and very excited about it. With Steve Smith and David Warner absent, it’s an opportunity for me to captain the side for three matches, but I’m not about to change too much and it’s a case of trying to continue the disciplines that have earned us success in the recent past.”