No hard feelings says Renegade Wade

Matthew Wade says he’s looking forward to greater opportunities at the top of the batting order after making the move from the Melbourne Stars to the Melbourne Renegades in the KFC T20 Big Bash League.

The four-year signing is a bold move by last season’s sixth-placed side as they set their sights on the top prize in 2014-15.

“It’s really exciting to come over and be a part of this team,” Wade said.

“To settle into a lineup for a long period of time and bat in the same position will probably help me be a better Twenty20 player.

“Obviously if I want to get back to playing for Australia that will help as well.

“We’re starting to get a lot more Victorian players back at the Renegades.

“They lost a lot of the big players (in BBL|01) and now for me and Siddsy (Peter Siddle) and Jimmy (James Pattinson) to come over here in the last couple of years; it’s good for cricket.”

The wicket-keeper batsman, who averaged 25.6 in seven matches for the Stars last season, struggled to make any one position his own in BBL|03 but is looking forward to the added consistency the move to opening will bring.  

“I was up the top a little bit for the Stars,” Wade said.

“Then I’d bat six for a couple of games, which made it hard to get consistency.

“If you want to be one of the best players you have to be consistent.

“I think the top of the order is the best option for me.”

Despite the switch from green to red, Wade says he doesn’t expect there his former teammates to harbour any ill feeling.

“That’s the great thing about BBL,” he said

“All the players around the country understand the situation and the movement of players.

“If they need to go and get a better opportunity to be better players, or to try and play for Australia, or whatever it is, (they can).

“I think the playing group around the country understand what players need to do at BBL level.”