Australian cricketer and World Cup hero Matthew Wade has officially retired from international cricket, concluding a 13-year career in which he played 36 Tests and 189 limited-overs matches. Wade, a key figure in Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup victory, will now step into a new role as wicketkeeping and fielding coach for the upcoming T20 series against Pakistan.
Reflecting on his retirement, the 36-year-old explained that discussions about his future had been ongoing for the past few years, especially after each major tour or World Cup. “If we went into the last World Cup and I managed to get some runs and we won that, then things would look maybe a little different,” Wade noted, signaling a shared understanding with Cricket Australia about the timing of his exit.
Wade briefly captained Australia’s T20 side between 2020 and 2024, filling in during key matches. Though his career concluded after an early exit from the T20 World Cup in June, his impact on Australian cricket, both as a leader and a steady wicketkeeper-batsman, leaves a lasting legacy.
As he transitions to coaching, Wade’s expertise will now support the next generation of Australian cricketers, marking a new chapter in his ongoing commitment to the sport.
