Australia’s T20 World Cup Hero Matthew Wade Retires from International Cricket

Australia’s former wicket-keeper Matthew Wade, known for hitting three back-to-back sixes off Shaheen Afridi in the 2021 T20 World Cup semi-final and scoring a memorable century in the 2019 Ashes, has officially retired from international cricket. Following his retirement, Wade will transition into a coaching role, taking up duties for the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan.

Matthew Wade played an impressive 225 international matches for Australia across all formats from 2011 to 2024. In his T20 career, Wade scored 1,202 runs with an average of 26.13 and a solid strike rate of 134.15. His ODI journey saw him notch 1,867 runs at an average of 26.29, including one century and 11 half-centuries.

Wade also contributed significantly in Test cricket, amassing 1,613 runs at an average of 29.87, which included four centuries and five fifties. Wade’s versatility and commitment were evident in each format, making him a valuable asset for the Australian team over his career.

Matthew Wade’s final outing in Australian colors came in the 2024 T20 World Cup, marking the end of his T20 career after he last played Test cricket in the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Known for his dependable skills behind the stumps, Wade recorded 64 dismissals in T20Is, the fifth-highest for any wicket-keeper in this format.
He’s also one of only three Australians to captain, keep wickets, and open the batting in the same T20I. Wade’s remarkable Ashes performances include two centuries in the 2019 series in England while batting at number five or lower, a rare feat accomplished by only nine Australian players in Ashes history.