Matthew Wade believes Australia has adequate fire-power in its pace attack to dent the Indian line-up during the upcoming four-Test series. “I think we have a great fast bowling attack,” he said at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Monday.
The 25-year-old wicket-keeper batsman also said he — the lone wicket-keeper batsman in this Aussie side — would not be thinking about getting injured during the matches. “If that happens, I think we can get someone here quickly.”
Queried about the challenges of ‘keeping wickets in India, Wade said, “I have heard several stories about ’keeping here from great ’keepers such as Ian Healy. He told me to keep it simple. It will be quite something ’keeping on big turning tracks. I will work on my game.”
Coping with spinners
An aggressive left-handed batsman too, Wade spoke about coping with the spinners in the sub-continental conditions. Predictably, the sweep shot was on his mind. “I will have to think, which way I would have to come down the pitch for the sweep,” he said.
Wade said he was not “one hundred per cent” sure about the Australian opening combination for the Test series. “That will be left to Michael Clarke and the team-management to decide,” he said.
The captain for the two-day match against the Board President’s XI, Wade revealed he would be keen to watch pacemen Peter Siddle and James Pattinson in action. “They have not bowled too much in recent months.”
On the rotation system adopted by Australia, he said, “Obviously, as players, we want to play as much as we can. But we fully understand where Cricket Australia is going with the rotation system. In places like India, the weather is going to be hot and it is going to be hard work for the fast bowlers.”
Asked about gamesmanship and on-field drama that have often accompanied India-Australia matches, Wade said, “Our fast bowlers just walk out on the ground, they do not come with any plan. India competes hard, and so do we. Over the years, there have been so many tough contests between the sides. There’s great history between both teams. Both sides will go as hard as they can on the field but I am sure, after the game, everything will be fine.”
Plenty to play for
Board President’s XI captain Abhinav Mukund said the aspirants would have plenty to play for despite the Indian squad for the first two Tests already being picked. “I heard Adam Gilchrist say once, there are no dead rubbers for fringe cricketers.”
Team coach Lalchand Rajput said, “The boys have been playing plenty of cricket in recent months. The match will be a good opportunity for them to test their skills against an international side.”
