Photo Credit: Hobart Hurricanes
The Hobart Hurricanes are excited to announce that Matthew Wade has signed a contract extension with the club, which will see the prolific ‘keeper-batter remain in purple until at least 2026.
With one year remaining on his current agreement, Wade has signed a two-year extension with his home club, which will see the 35-year-old remain based in Tasmania for the foreseeable future.
One of Australia’s premier T20 talents in a career that has thus far spanned 14 seasons in the format, Wade was again solid for the Hurricanes’ top order throughout BBL|12. Wade was the Hurricanes’ second-highest run-scorer for the season, notching up 307 runs from 12 matches, at a strike rate of 131.19. Behind the stumps, he also amassed eight dismissals.
Hurricanes head coach, Jeff Vaughan, said his side would be buoyed as a result of Wade’s confirmed inclusion.
“We’re really excited that Wadey has let us know that he intends to finish his career with us here in Tassie,” Vaughany said.
“We’re still obviously a few years’ away from reaching that point, however, and there’s no doubt that Wadey is one of the country’s premier T20 talents. To have that level of experienced player not only out on the pitch for us but around our younger players who are still developing their craft and learning the nuances of the short form of the game will be really valuable for both our team and our program as a whole moving forward.
Wade reiterated Vaughan’s comments, saying he was excited to be based at home in Hobart for the Australian summer of cricket.
“My intention has always been to finish up playing my cricket here at home in Tassie, so it’s great to have locked in my future with the Hurricanes until 2026,” Wade said.
“As a professional cricketer, you spend a lot of your time travelling, so to be able to be based at home and be able to play in front of my family and friends is something that’s really important to me,” Wade continued.
“Plus, out on the field, I would love to be part of the first Hurricanes team to lift that BBL trophy. It’s something that as a group we’ve come close to over the years but has eluded us for awhile now. We obviously need to tweak a few bits and pieces here and there, but overall I think we’ve got the list to do this in the next couple of years.”
Wade joins Iain Carlisle, Tim David, Paddy Dooley, Nathan Ellis, Peter Hatzoglou, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Mitch Owen, Billy Stanlake and Mac Wright as Hurricanes currently contracted for BBL|13.
The Hurricanes will get their BBL|13 campaign underway on December 11, when they take on the Sydney Sixers at home in Launceston.
Tickets for the upcoming BBL|13 and WBBL|09 seasons were released for sale to the general public yesterday. To secure your seat, head to Ticketmaster (for matches played at University of Tasmania Stadium) or Ticketek (for matches played at Blundstone Arena).
