5 batsmen who were unlucky to miss out on the Australian Test squad

Matthew Wade

Wade playing a One Day International for Australia

Following Tim Paine's surprising selection for last summer's Ashes, Wade's international career appeared over, with the left-hander no longer Tasmania's number one keeper.

Undeterred by Paine's meteoric rise, the Tasmanian has responded this summer with a stellar season with the bat, prompting calls for him to be picked as a specialist batsman.

Boasting a healthy first-class average of 39.56, Wade made 412 runs at runs at 82.4 in his first 4 Sheffield Shield matches of the summer, with a highest score of 137.

The now reserve-gloveman has demonstrated remarkable consistency so far this summer, making 4 half centuries in addition to his 100, meaning he has passed 50 in 5 of his 8 first-class innings this season.

Whilst Paine's rise to the role of Test captain makes the Test keeping position unobtainable, Wade's stellar form and consistency with the bat made him a realistic middle order option for a Test side struggling with regular collapses, and in desperate need of stability.