Matthew Wade ready for pink-ball challenge despite his colour blindness
Australian wicket-keeper batsman Matthew Wade was one of two lucky cricketers to be recalled to the national Test team in order to stabilise the sinking ship. The left-hander, who last played a Test match in 2013, was brought back into the squad to replace Peter Nevill for the third and final Test against the South Africans. Wade was dropped the last time around due to his sloppy glovework.
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While speaking to a group of reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday he said that he was confident of adapting to the day-night Test match despite him facing vision problems for quite some time now. "I played pink ball at the Adelaide Oval last year in a Shield game, so it'll be interesting to see what it does in the Test arena. You've just got to get used to it," he was quoted as saying by Supersport.
The left-hander is suffering from colour blindness but is confident enough that he won't let that get into his mind. He said, "I think it's trying to get it out of your mind. I can see the colour of the ball, I pick it up. It's just at times it takes a little bit longer to work out the depth of where it's coming."
"It can't be an issue, I've got to work it out," he added.
Former Australian opener Chris Rogers too suffered from color-blindness and the left-hander withdrew from a day-night domestic match in 2014 in which the pink ball was being trialled for the first time.
The third Test between Australia and Pakistan will only be the third day-night Test match in the history of the game and the second to be hosted by Australia. The Aussies won a thrilling encounter against New Zealand at the same ground last year.
Also read: Chris Rogers opts out of pink ball Shield game against Tasmania
Wade also went on to say that it would be easier for him to play the day-night Test match since he has played quite a few matches with the pink ball in the Sheffield Shield. He said, "I've got more used to it I suppose. The more you play, you get more used to it, but the ball is getting better year-in, year-out."
The third Test match between Australia and South Africa will be played in Adelaide and is scheduled to start from the 24th of this month. While the Proteas will be looking for a clean sweep, the Aussies would want their young blood to announce their arrival in style.