Healy and Wade sorted out their differences

Former Australia player Ian Healy and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade have put their differences aside after Healy heavily criticised Wade’s glovework during the Test series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.

Wade noted that he had taken Healy’s words as “constructive” criticism and while he believes that his international career has gotten off to a decent start, he also admitted that it was time for him to “go up a level”.

Healy had slammed Wade for dropping numerous catches and botching several stumping opportunities during the South Africa and Sri Lanka series, while also saying that he was nowhere near to being a Test keeper since he had not even mastered the basics yet.

However, both players cleared the air when they met in Brisbane and Wade even asked Healy which areas of his keeping was in dire need of improvement.

“I took it as constructive,” Wade said. “I flew up a couple of hours early yesterday and went and had a coffee with him and had a catch. We went through a few little different bits and pieces. I suppose it would have been easy for me to get grumpy about it. But I took it on board and I’ve tried to work on a few things. He’s one of the best keepers who has ever played. His feedback is always welcome.

“I think there was a build-up to his comments [on radio] … I rang him straight away and had a chat to him about it. He was a little bit disappointed about what had been written and said. I’m sure he’ll call me up next time and deliver it straight to me instead.”

Wade was disappointed with his own performance over the Test summer, but partially puts his errors down to playing in 47 out of a total of 50 matches Australia were involved in across all three formats.

However, with an India and back-to-back Ashes series looming over the horizon, Wade’s tremendous workload is set to continue and seems to have no end in sight.

But, with Wade’s predecessor Brad Haddin having an excellent time behind the stumps in the domestic season, he will now be under immense pressure to hang on to every catch and make every stumping opportunity count, otherwise, the gloves could come off and be handed over to Haddin.

Wade noted that he was pleased with his overall performance over the past 12 months and was ready to embark on another gruelling and hectic year.

“I think in general it’s been a decent start,” Wade said. “It’s definitely something to build on. I’ve been in the team for 12 months now and I’ve got to look to get better and improve from now, from this point onwards, look to go up a level. That little break is almost the 12-month break for me. I got into the team last year in the Twenty20s so it’s almost been 12 months to sit down and reflect on what I’ve done and now look to push my career further and further.

“I’ve definitely rocked up now after ten days off and feel really fresh. I’m excited to go to training and have a catch and have a bat. I’m not sure what the effects would have been down the line [if not rested], it’s too hard to say, but all I can say is I’m ready to go.”