Although Steve Smith has garnered all the limelight in the ongoing Ashes Test at Edgbaston, Matthew Wade has also made a remarkable comeback to international cricket with a fine century on the fourth day. The wicket-keeper-batsman, playing his first game in the highest level of the sport in two years, came out all guns blazing against Australia’s traditional foes to lead his side into a dominant position.
Despite the wicket-keeper slot being occupied by skipper Tim Paine, Wade was inducted into the national side as a pure batsman following a prolific run in domestic cricket. He brought forth all his shots in the emphatic ton against England on a wearing pitch as he smashed 110 off 143 balls.
Wade’s brisk scoring rate secured elevated Australia’s chances of triumphing in the Ashes opener. What made the left-hander’s innings more special is the fact he displayed unorthodox strokes quite frequently during his knock including a reverse-sweep to bring up his century.