Australia vs Sri Lanka: Disappointed Matthew Wade questions the criteria to get picked in the Test team

After their disappointing loss to India in the Test series at home, Australia made some changes to their squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka starting Wednesday but in-form wicket-keeper-batsman Matthew Wade failed to make the cut yet again. The 31-year-old was clearly dejected for not having found a berth and said he, along with other players, were not sure about the criteria for selection in the national side.

Wade belted an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls for the Hobart Hurricanes against the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL) on Monday and now has scored over 1,000 runs across all formats this summer. He has also been the leading scorer for Tasmania in the domestic Sheffield Shield.

Kurtis Patterson added late in the squad

Yet, Wade lost to New South Wales batsman Kurtis Patterson who averages 41 in first-class cricket and hit centuries in both innings for Cricket Australia XI in the practice game against the Lankans.

“I get told one thing, then I see the comments in the paper the next day about Kurtis piling runs on and getting picked,” Wade was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au after his knock in the BBL clash. “I’m not sure what’s going on. It’s just a little bit frustrating that on one hand you can say one thing about one player and on the other hand (say) it’s why someone’s getting picked.”

Wade also generalised his disappointment saying other players were also harbouring the same feeling. “If the criteria is hundreds and scoring runs, then pick the guys that are doing it. If that’s not the criteria, then let us know.” Wade, who last played in an international game in October 2017, said he was earlier told by national selector Trevor Hohns that he was not getting picked for he was batting too down the order for Tasmania.

The wicketkeeper-batsman averages less than 29 in 22 Tests that he has played so far with two hundreds. He has also played in 94 ODIs, averaging 25.75 and in 26 T20Is, averaging below 20.

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