Tasmanian cricket received a major boost with the news that wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade will prioritize the upcoming Sheffield Shield final over the initial matches of IPL 2024. Tasmania, assured of a spot in the Shield decider, will likely host the contest in Hobart, aiming for their first title since 2012-13.
Wade’s Commitment Earns Tasmania Coach’s Praise
The Sheffield Shield final is scheduled for March 21-25, potentially causing Wade to miss only the opening match for Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians on March 25. His availability for the second game against Chennai Super Kings on March 27 might be uncertain as well.
Tasmania head coach Jeff Vaughan expressed his delight at Wade’s commitment, acknowledging his experience and crucial role in the team’s success. “[He’s] spoken with his IPL franchise and they’re happy to allow him to stay here,” Vaughan told reporters. “We feel very fortunate to have someone of Matt’s ilk coming back into our group.”
A Second Chance at Shield Glory for Wade
This isn’t Wade’s first stint with Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield. After a decade with Victoria, he returned to Tasmania for the 2017-18 season, featuring in the Shield final that they ultimately lost to Queensland. Notably, Wade shone brightly in that final, even bagging the Player of the Match award for his brilliant century (108).
Having completed his white-ball duties with Australia, Wade rejoined the Tasmanian side for the last round of matches. Interestingly, he opened the batting for the first time in his Shield career, a role he briefly undertook at the Test level against India in 2020-21. While the experiment wasn’t a runaway success, he contributed scores of 32 and 5 against Victoria, who Tasmania defeated by 57 runs to secure their final berth.
Tasmania has one more regular-season hurdle to overcome – a clash against South Australia in Hobart. The outcome of the final, however, hinges on the much-anticipated clash between Victoria and Western Australia in Melbourne. This match will determine Tasmania’s opponent in the grand finale, with Scott Boland expected to be released from the Test squad in New Zealand to bolster Victoria’s bowling attack.
Matthew Wade’s decision prioritizes domestic glory with Tasmania, potentially putting his initial involvement with Gujarat Titans in the IPL on hold. Cricket fans will be keeping a close eye on both the Sheffield Shield final and Wade’s potential return to the IPL.
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