Matthew Wade’s a Justin Langer clone: David Hussey bats for experienced ’keeper to return

It can well be established that Australia’s inexperienced batting line-up sans Steve Smith and David Warner, serving suspensions, cannot match up to India’s potent pace attack that dismantled the hosts in their two losses of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

On Sunday, Australia lost the third Test at MCG that ensured India retain the trophy and take a 2-1 lead in the four-match series with the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) which gets underway on January 3.

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With the recent loss in the Boxing Day Test, this Australian side became the first team in 26 years not to have a centurion in their home summer Tests by the New Year.

With their batting problems haunting them, former Australia batsman David Hussey believes Matthew Hade can possibly resurrect the frail batting line-up.

“Matthew Wade springs to mind. Can he open the batting? Well I think that’s poor thinking — he’s a middle order player, he’s had good success with the bat, he’s made two Test hundreds already,” Hussey said on ABC Grandstand on Saturday.

“He’s the only one really screaming out for that chance to play for Australia in Test match cricket.”

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Wade, who has scored 886 runs in 22 Tests, last wore the Baggy Green in September 2017 when Australia were on tour to Bangladesh. He was dropped for Tim Paine, who has been sensational leading the side in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal.

Wade, currently plying his trade in the Big Bash League (BBL) 2018-19, was the 12^th leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield last season with 654 runs at 43.60 with three centuries.

He has been in good touch in this BBL season as well scoring back to back half-centuries for the Hobart Hurricanes, including a match-winning 85 against Sydney Thunder on Thursday.

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“I’ve played a lot with Matthew — he’s a fighter, he’s gritty, I think he’s learnt a lot from his time in and out of the Australian dressing room,” Hussey, who has played with Wade for Victoria and in the Australian one-day team, said.

“I think he’s a Justin Langer clone. Will never give his wicket away cheaply, fights hard for his team, and most importantly he always plays for the team and I can’t speak highly enough of him as a cricketer and as a person.”