Hobart Hurricanes swap Beau Webster to secure services of Tasmanian keeper Matthew Wade

After much speculation, the Australian team management chose gloveman Tim Paine over his Tasmanian teammate Matthew Wade for the ongoing Ashes series. But Wade’s intriguing battle with Tim Paine for the gloves in Tasmania looks set to continue with BBL franchise Hobart Hurricanes set to have both wicketkeepers on their roster for the upcoming KFC Big Bash League (BBL) season. Both Paine and Wade are likely to be the top contenders as Australia’s keeper for the Gillette ODI series that follows the Magellan Ashes.

The Hurricanes on Friday confirmed they traded all-rounder Beau Webster to the Melbourne Renegades in a straight swap for Wade. The 29-year-old will now be moving back to his native Tasmania after a decade in Victoria over the winter. Tim Paine will be absent for most of Hobart’s BBL|07 campaign given his recent elevation to the Test side an hence the swap makes complete sense.

Supporting the swap, Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins said the Hurricanes would need a gloveman in vice-captain Paine’s likely absence. He added,”It’s terrific that we’ve been able to secure Matthew for the Hurricanes. He’s obviously part of the Tasmanian Tigers program this season as well so it’s great that he will be playing his cricket in Tasmania full time.”

“With Tim being in the national side we’re obviously in need of a wicketkeeper, so when the opportunity to secure Matt’s services came up we were keen to pursue that.”

Renegades coach Andrew McDonald pleased to secure Beau Webster

McDonald looked extremely upbeat after securing the service a promising player like Webster as a replacement for Wade. He also said it made sense for Wade to play for the Hurricanes given he’s now back home on the Apple Isle.

Webster played five matches for the Hurricanes in the previous edition and recently struck his maiden List A century while captaining the CA XI. Thus, Webster will be a clinical addition to the squad with umpteen domestic experience under his belt.