Matthew Wade signs for Worcestershire for 2022 season

The 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who has made more than 170 appearances for Australia will represent the club in all three formats

Worcestershire have signed Australia international Matthew Wade on a multi-format deal for the 2022 season.

The 33-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman has made more than 170 appearances for Australia in all formats since making his debut in 2011, including 36 Tests, 97 ODIs, and 43 T20Is.

Signed primarily as a batsman to bolster Worcestershire’s top order, Wade has scored 8,492 first-class runs at an average of 40.82, 4,675 List A runs, and 2,901 T20 runs at a strike rate of 137.61.

He will also bring considerable leadership experience to New Road, having recently been appointed as Australia’s captain for their upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh and previously skippering Victoria to two Sheffield Shield titles.

Commenting on signing for Worcestershire, Wade said: "I’m really looking forward to joining up with what’s an exciting group of players at Worcestershire for next season.

"I have always wanted to experience the challenge of a full season of county cricket, and I jumped at the opportunity to join Worcestershire as soon as it came about.

"New Road is one of the world’s most recognisable cricket grounds, and I loved playing there as part of the Ashes tour in 2019. I can’t wait to get going."

Paul Pridgeon, chairman of Worcestershire’s Cricket Steering Group, added: "We have signed him as a batter. He is a real hard-nosed batter in red-ball cricket and a dangerous striker in white-ball cricket.

"We think he will add a lot to our group and will be particularly helpful for the young players. He is a real winner, he knows how to win, and we feel that will rub off on some of the young lads and be good for their development. Matthew has also got a lot of captaincy experience, which will undoubtedly come in helpful to the likes of Joe Leach, Ben Cox and Jake Libby and people like that.

"It is almost like an old-fashioned overseas signing in the sense that he is going to come and play all formats for the entire season, something that does not happen very often now."

Explaining Wade's role in the side, he continued: "We have been conscious that we needed something at the top of the order to spark us. He gives us a lot in all three competitions, and it is a sign of our intent to try and to continue to improve.

"He can bat anywhere in the top five. I want to stress that he is here as a batsman and to help to develop the younger players. It is something we felt we needed."

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