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Veteran Australian wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade on Tuesday, October 29 announced retirement from international cricket, aged 36. Wade, who made his debut for Australia in 2011, has been one of the most successful and revered players in Australian cricket and with his retirement, he is set to join the side as a coach.
Having featured in 36 Tests, 97 ODIs and 92 T20Is for the Kangaroos, Wade last featured in the Aussie colours in the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies. During his stint as a player, the Tasmanian featured in many victories, highlighting his performance at the 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup.
I’m officially retiring: Matthew Wade
The 36-year-old, who retired from First-Class cricket last summer, while addressing cricket.com.au said, “I’m officially retiring.” "It's been an ongoing discussion for pretty much every tour or every World Cup that I've been on in the last three or four years. It's been a really fluent conversation that I've had with George (Bailey, chief selector) and Ronnie (coach Andrew McDonald) over the last six months or since the last World Cup finished,” he added.
"If we went into the last World Cup and I managed to get some runs and we won that, then things would look maybe a little different and maybe I'd keep going … it was just kind of an understanding from all of us," Wade added, highlighting that the defeat against India in semi-final hit him emotionally.
Matthew Wade to continue playing for Tasmania and Hobart Hurricanes; to join Australian coaching staff
The Tasmanian, however, will continue to play for his state team and the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL). Moreover, he has also opened up on playing other T20 leagues across the world and has already signed up with Sharjah Warriors for the third edition of the International League T20, starting January 2025.
Additionally, Wade has joined the coaching staff of the Australia cricket team and has been named the wicketkeeping and fielding coach for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan. Adding to his coaching stint, Wade said, “Coaching has been on my radar over the last few years and thankfully some great opportunities have come my way, for which I am very grateful and excited. I will continue to play BBL and the odd franchise league over the summer months but around those commitments as a player I am investing heavily in my coaching.”
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley also extended his greetings on Wade’s 13-year-long cricketing career adding, “Congratulations to Matthew on what has been a wonderful international career during which his skill and versatility has made him an outstanding performer across all formats. I’m delighted he will add to his massive contribution by coaching the next generation of stars and also continuing to light up the Big Bash with the Hobart Hurricanes.”
