Wade confirmed as Aussie skipper in Finch absence

Matthew Wade has vowed to offer guidance to Australia’s inexperienced batters after being confirmed as captain for the five-match T20 International series against Bangladesh.

Aaron Finch left the Aussies' bio-secure bubble for their tours of the Caribbean and Bangladesh, flying home from Barbados last month and will have a minor surgical procedure on his injured right knee in a bid to be fit for the T20 World Cup later this year.

With regular vice-captain Pat Cummins among a host of senior players absent from the white-ball campaigns, Alex Carey took over from Finch in the recent one-day internationals against the Windies.

But Wade will lead Australia in what could be the team's final T20 matches before the World Cup.

The 33-year-old, who took over from Carey as the T20 side's first-choice gloveman last year, became the 11th man to lead the Aussies in the format when Finch missed a solitary game at home against India last summer while Cummins was being rested.

Carey could still play against Bangladesh as a specialist batter, as he did in their recent T20 series defeat to the Windies in St Lucia, but will likely be squeezed back out of the side when the likes of David Warner and Glenn Maxwell return unless he can dominate the home side's spinners on turning pitches in Dhaka.

Wade has captained extensively at domestic level with Victoria, Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes.

He said the major difference doing the job in green and gold will be the fact he has the gloves on.

"I'm obviously wicketkeeping so the distance between the bowler and myself is a lot greater and that means there's a lot more responsibility on the individual," Wade told reporters from Dhaka.

"When you come in and take over from someone it's just about giving the ability for those guys to really take ownership of their game and at the top of the mark, they need to execute."

With Finch joining the likes of T20 regulars Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Warner and Maxwell in missing the tour, Wade sees his main role as helping one of the more inexperienced batting line-ups Australia have fielded in recent times.

Ben McDermott could resume his spot in the T20 side after recovering from an ankle injury.

Rookie fast bowler Nathan Ellis is in line to make his international debut after Riley Meredith was ruled out with a side strain but Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc bring a considerable depth of knowledge with the ball.

"Where my leadership might come in a little more is with our batting group," Wade said. "We've probably got a younger batting group than we've had on these tours, not a lot of international experience between all our batters.

"The bowling takes care of itself with guys like Zampa, Starc and Hazelwood – they've all played a lot of cricket together and they can take care of themselves."

Wade begun last month's Caribbean tour expecting to bat in the top order but now looks set to remain in the middle, where he could be needed at the World Cup when Australia's main batters return.

He did add, however, that his batting position for that event is not set in stone, and even floated the possibility of Mitch Marsh being promoted to open against Bangladesh after a breakout series at No.3 against the Windies.

"It's a different challenge," Wade, an opener for the Hurricanes in the BBL, said of batting further down the order. "Thankfully I've played for Australia in the middle order a lot, especially in one day cricket.

"Now it's just about getting more work in – I haven't done it (bat in the middle) for three years and it certainly has its challenges compared to opening the batting.

"But it's a good opportunity to do it now and then once the World Cup rolls around, depending on how we go, whether that means I go back up top or stay in the middle order, we're not 100 per cent sure.

"The way that Mitch has come out and played at No.3, that's another option for us at the top of the order. He could open as well if needed him to.

"We're probably just rolling through a few different scenarios of where guys could fit in for the World Cup. For the next five games that will be me down a little bit and we'll see how it goes."

Qantas Tour of Bangladesh 2021

Australia squad: Ashton Agar, Wes Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Dan Christian, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade (c), Adam Zampa. Travelling reserves: Nathan Ellils, Tanveer Sangha.

Bangladesh squad: Mahmudullah (c), Soumya Sarkar, Naim Sheikh, Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Shaif Uddin, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Mohammad Mithun, Taijul Islam, Musaddek Hossain Saikat, Rubel Hossain

(all matches at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka)

First T20: August 3, 6pm (10pm AEST)

Second T20: August 4, 6pm (10pm AEST)

Third T20: August 6, 6pm (10pm AEST)

Fourth T20: August 7, 6pm (10pm AEST)

Fifth T20: August 9, 6pm (10pm AEST)