AUS vs ENG: Matthew Wade Gives England Credit For Australia's Turnaround In T20Is

Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade attributes England’s “the lighting moment”—a shift in the team’s attitude to Twenty20 cricket—to the World Cup victory last year. 

The 34-year-old pondered on the eight-wicket beating Australia suffered in the World Cup group stage last year when England pursued 125 for victory and smashed the goal in just 12 overs. He was speaking ahead of the three-match T20 series with England, which begins in Perth on Sunday. 

Since then, Australia has taken a more aggressive stance, which helped them win the 2017 final against New Zealand by chasing down 172 runs. 

Australia Playing A Different Kind Of Cricket Since Being Demolished By England In 2021 T20 World Cup: Matthew Wade

Ahead of the World Cup, which begins later this month, Wade said he still thought of England as “the benchmark” in T20 cricket. 

“In the World Cup game (in 2021) they demolished us and that kind of changed the way we went about playing T20 cricket from that point onwards,” he said. 

“We’ve been playing a different style of cricket since. That was the real lightbulb moment for the team that we needed to change the way we were playing. 

“It will be good to match up against them and see how we go harder with the bat. We play seven batters and know that we can get a lot more runs. You need to be able to score 180 to 200 runs to beat the England team.” 

Matthew Wade Enjoying The Finisher’s Role

Matthew Wade has shown he is a selfless team player by batting at No. 7 following a protracted opening spell. 

In Australia’s Wednesday three-wicket victory against the West Indies on the Gold Coast, he has developed into a terrific finisher and guided his team to victory with one ball remaining. 

“It has been really good (moving down the list) and is something that needed to come at that time,” Wade said. 

“I had opened a lot and we have a lot of good opening batters, with a lot more to come. 

“Before the (2021) World Cup I went down to seven and enjoyed the challenge of something different. I am starting to learn that position the more I play and these three games will be important for me to build on what I have done these last twelve or eighteen months.” 

We Will Look At Different Combinations In Upcoming Series Against England: Matthew Wade

With top bowling trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Adam Zampa among those sticking behind to prepare for two further international matches against England in Canberra, Australia will play a new-look team against England. 

“In terms of getting towards the World Cup obviously Marcus Stoinis will be back around the group and Ashton Agars,” Matthew Wade said. 

“We are just waiting to see on their fitness and then start to lock down the eleven for the World Cup but that is the luxury we have got at the moment. 

“We can have a look at a few different combinations as we already have.” 

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