Matthew Wade aiming to earn recall for Australia's Ashes campaign by playing as specialist batsman..
By Antony Pinshaw, Cricket Editor FOX SPORTS May 22, 2013 3:45PM
Australia's incumbent wicketkeeper Matthew Wade will aim to play as a specialist batsman in search for an Ashes recall.
Wade is resigned to missing out on selection for the first Test at Trent Bridge, with his predecessor Brad Haddin called up to the squad and elevated to vice-captain after Shane Watson stood down from the position.
Haddin's new title makes it unlikely he'll be dropped during the series, meaning Wade's best chance of selection in England rests largely on his batting form in Australia's tour matches.
The 25-year-old acknowledged as much in an exclusive interview with foxsports.com.au, while saying he still wants to be a wicketkeeper in the long-term.
"I'll definitely try my best to play as a batter, and I'll keep working hard as a keeper - I want to be a keeper in the future.
"For this series, I'll definitely try get some runs to put my hand up to play as a batsman.
"Down the track I think they (the selectors) definitely see me as a keeper, but for the Ashes series I'm in the squad and if I do the right things and score enough runs, they'll consider playing me as a specialist batter, but down the track ... I want to keep for Australia for a long time.
"Hopefully after Brad I'll get that chance and nail it down."
While Haddin will captain Australia A on their pre-Ashes tour of England, Wade will also be in the country as Australia's wicketkeeper in the Champions Trophy.
When asked if he was hoping to push his Ashes claims at the one-day tournament, the Victorian was circumspect.
"I think they're two separate things at the moment (the Champions Trophy and the Ashes)," Wade said.
"I'll 'keep in the Champions Trophy and Brad will definitely start in the Test matches; he's vice-captain.
"I just want to contribute if I get a chance in the Ashes series. Be it off the field or on the field, I want to make a difference."
Like many of his teammates, Wade endured a difficult time during the recent 4-0 series loss in India, but did manage to take several positives out of the tour.
"It was a great learning experience, obviously to go over there and play on those wickets was something I'd never experienced.
"To have those in the bank now (will help me) to be able to work hard and concentrate on getting back into the team knowing that (in) any conditions I know whats going to happen."
Arguably Australia's most successful day during what was otherwise a very disappointing tour came during the fourth Test, when under the captaincy of Watson the players took a markedly more aggressive approach on the field.
Wade led from the front, getting involved in a heated on-field exchange with India's Virat Kohli, and it's something we could see more of during the Ashes.
"We haven't spoken too much about it this tour, but definitely in the last Test we made a conscious effort to come out and be a little bit more aggressive, and I think we probably performed a bit better when we did.
"We won't be taking a step back, that's for sure, but we won't be going out of our way to make issues out there, but well do whatever it takes to play the best that we can."
