Returning Victorian captain Matthew Wade says he’s disappointed with himself for missing a match for pitch tampering, even though he maintains he did nothing out of the ordinary.
Wade, who was Australia’s Test and one-day wicketkeeper until replaced by Brad Haddin earlier this year, feels he owes the Bushrangers a big performance in their Sheffield Shield clash against South Australia at the MCG, starting on Friday.
He was out suspended as they were thrashed by Western Australia in Perth earlier this week, a result which compounded his frustration at a ban he unsuccessfully appealed.
“If we had have won I’d take it a lot easier and move on,” Wade told reporters on Thursday.
“But to see what happened in Perth makes it more disappointing and I feel like I let the boys down a little bit.
“I’ve got a chance this week to make up for that.”
Wade was found to have created a long valley in the protected part of the pitch while batting in his side’s previous game, a win over Tasmania in Hobart.
But he said he received no warning at the time and hadn’t done anything unusual.
“I’ve played 70 Shield games and I’ve done the same thing every Shield game,” Wade said.
“The wicket was a little bit more underdone than probably what I’m used to playing on.
“I’ve got to be more aware of those situations and make myself better.”
Wade said he had to learn from his setback.
“I’m disappointed and frustrated with everything that went on and disappointed in myself for putting myself in that situation,” he said.
His return gives Victorian selectors a difficult decision.
Veteran David Hussey was dropped for the match against Tasmania.
But he was recalled to replace Wade against WA and top-scored with 85 in his side’s miserable first innings of 198, making it hard to leave him out now that Wade’s back.
Selectors delayed the decision by naming a 13-man squad on Thursday.
SA have regained left-arm quick Gary Putland, who missed the early part of the season with a hamstring injury, but took match figures of 12-92 to help the Redbacks to victory in the corresponding fixture last season.
Squads:
Victoria: Matthew Wade (capt), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Aaron Finch, Jake Haberfield, Peter Handscomb, Jon Holland, David Hussey, Clint McKay, Glenn Maxwell, Rob Quiney, Cameron White.
SA: Johan Botha (capt), Tom Cooper, Callum Ferguson, Travis Head, Phil Hughes, Michael Klinger, Trent Lawford, Tim Ludeman, Gary Putland, Kane Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Adam Zampa.