Matthew Wade says he’s not the only cricketer feeling frustrated at mixed messages from Australian selectors.
Wade says he’s no longer “hung up” on being snubbed but admits annoyance at the reasoning from national selectors.
“It’s just a little bit frustrating,” Wade said after blasting an unbeaten 84 from 49 balls for the Hobart Hurricanes in Monday night’s BBL match.
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“And I don’t think I’m just talking for myself, I think all players around the country – if the criteria is hundreds and scoring runs, then pick the guys that are doing it.
“If that is not the criteria, then let us know.”
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Wade, who has now scored 1084 runs in all formats this summer, said he would have loved a chance to press his Test claims by playing for a Cricket Australia XI in a tour match against Sri Lanka.
NSW’s Kurtis Patterson struck twin tons in the tour game and has been rewarded with selection in Australia’s squad for the first Test against the Lankans. Wade had previously been told by chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns that he wasn’t gaining selection because he batted too low in Tasmania’s order.
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“It’s just hard, you know. I get told one thing and then I see the comments in the paper the next day about Kurtis, about piling runs on and getting picked,” Wade said.
“So I don’t know, it’s a little bit frustrating … I don’t think it’s going to change. I’m not sure what is going on.” Wade said he was now refusing to dwell on being overlooked.
“Two weeks ago I was a little bit hung up on it and didn’t really know why I wasn’t getting an opportunity,” he said.
“And now, it doesn’t really worry me too much.
“I don’t play cricket solely to play for Australia. I play cricket to win games for the Hurricanes and win games for the Tigers.
“I have done that throughout my whole career, I have never been the guy that goes out and plays for individual accolades.
“If I start to do that now, it won’t go well for me.
“In terms of changing my (batting) position in the Tassie line-up, I will bat wherever it’s best for the team. I’ll keep (wicketkeep) if that is best for the team.
“I’m not putting myself in front of the team success.”
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Patterson was in the Australian camp and said he was ready to perform if he was able to get his first Test cap.
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“I feel at the top of my game to be honest,” Patterson said. “I feel like I’m hitting the ball as well as I ever have. You want to be picked when you’re playing and I feel like I am at the moment.
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“There’s some hard work to be done this week but if I get the opportunity on Thursday I will be looking forward to it.
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“I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Beau Casson. We have forged a really strong relationship and he has been absolutely fantastic for me.
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“I looked at how the best players bat and consulted with him on what we thought was the best way forward — it’s been a nice partnership with Beau.”
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The big talk from Patterson coming out of the Hobart match against Sri Lanka was the discussion of conversions from fifties to hundreds.
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He said he thinks he’s turned a corner and got rid of “the monkey off the back”.
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“I think almost just taking a step back and relaxing when I’m out there in the middle,” he said.
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“In the last couple of years I’ve thought about it too much when I’ve got in whereas this year I’m just letting it happen, just enjoying being in the present.
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“It’s just been some mental changes throughout my thinking and trying to develop some simple sound routines when I bat.”
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NSW bowler Trent Copeland was on Macquarie Sports Radio and said the selectors, who made big changes for the Sri Lankan series after heavy criticism, should be praised.
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After bringing in Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns and Will Pucovski and now Patterson, Copeland said it shows the selectors are willing to give players in a form a shot.
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“The selectors cop a lot of undue criticism at times,” Copeland said.
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“There are times when the fans and the cricket public don’t understand things and it’s not always their job to be transparent and tell everyone exactly what they’re thinking either.
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“This is a great move from the selectors in adding to the squad.
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“It’s not necessarily an issue if there’s another player vying for selection — when we’re at home — it’s one of the great advantages you have.
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“When the one-day series is on, this guy’s churning out runs. He got 160 not out in a grade game I played with him in Sydney two weeks ago before that CA XI game.
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“I think it’s just an acknowledgment this guy’s in serious form — is he in our best eleven? Let’s wait and see till match day.”
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