Australia vs India 2018: Matthew Wade Next In Line for Tests But it Won't Happen at the Sydney: Ricky Ponting

Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting feels that discarded wicket-keeper Matthew Wade is likely to come back to the Test squad; however, it is unlikely to happen at Sydney.

Meanwhile, Wade had not played a Test for Australia since September 2017 with current captain Tim Paine getting a surprise recall later that year when England arrived for the Ashes. The selectors snubbed Matthew Wade after averaging under 20 in 10 Tests since his recall in 2016. However, Matthew Wade has been in the headlines in recent times with his excellent display of batting in the Sheffield Shield.

“For (those next in line for) a Test batting spot, I said Matthew Wade a few weeks ago,” Ponting told cricket.com.au. “He’s the form player in the Sheffield Shield, no doubt about that – 571 runs I think he’s made so far. We’ve seen already in the Big Bash as well that he’s in really good touch, and he probably deserves a chance over anybody else right now because he’s simply put the numbers on the board.

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“And that’s one of the big things I know Justin Langer and the selectors are talking about – if you’re scoring runs, then you’re a great chance of getting picked. So you can’t fault what Matthew Wade’s done so far this season,” Ricky Ponting added.

However, Ponting believes the selectors will not disturb the squad for the final Test at Sydney. He also cited reasons behind his statement.

“I don’t think they’ll change for next week,” Ponting said. “One, because there’s just not too many (batsmen) that can come in. And it’s hard as well now with the Big Bash having started that no-one’s played any Sheffield Shield cricket over the last few weeks to try to put up a case to get into the side,” he concluded.