Refreshed Wade ready to help Tigers

Test batsman Matthew Wade says a few days off at home has him refreshed and ready to lead Tasmania in his return to the Marsh One-Day Cup.

Wade arrived back at home in Hobart following the Ashes last week and was rested from the Tigers’ opening two matches of the Marsh Cup against Western Australia and Victoria.

But the experienced wicketkeeper-batsman was on Thursday confirmed to captain Tasmania in their next two 50-over matches – both against South Australia in Adelaide next week.

Wade said a few days at home looking after his kids had allowed him to shake any lingering jetlag and has him ready to help Tasmania pick up their first win of the season.

"I feel pretty good now...I'm keen to get back and play," Wade said.

"Four or five days at home with two little ones getting over jetlag certainly gives you the desire to get out there and have another crack at it.

"I'm still hungry to play more cricket. I don't play it for individual success, I'm going to try and contribute for wins for Tassie."

Wade is expected to take the gloves for Tasmania for their next two Marsh Cup fixtures, after Ben McDermott kept wickets in the absence of the veteran for the early stages of the tournament.

While Wade is more than happy to take his spot behind the stumps when required, he said playing as a specialist batsman for Australia during the recent Ashes series had provided him with a different perspective on games. 

"I really enjoyed just playing as a batter, it was certainly a different feeling finding myself at mid-off shining the ball and you can just switch off," Wade said.

"The game certainly doesn't feel as long and there are certain Tests you're always under pressure if batting or keeping and I certainly felt that during my first 20-odd games (when keeping) in Test cricket."

Wade was one of only two Australian batsmen to make a century during the Ashes tour, but the 31-year-old knows he needs to continue making runs at state level if he is to retain his spot for Test series against Pakistan and New Zealand this summer.

"There's a lot of media beat up about selection this time of year, I've been around long enough to know there'll be plenty going on but it doesn't worry me too much," he said.

"My focus is to go and play good cricket for Tassie and all will take care of itself."

Tasmania squad: Matthew Wade (C), George Bailey, Jackson Bird, Alex Doolan, Nathan Ellis, James Faulkner, Jarrod Freeman, Caleb Jewell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Gurinder Sandhu, Jordan Silk, Beau Webster