17 Dec 2016

Floodlight on Wade, Maddinson at GABBA

2:45 pm on 17 December 2016

The selections of wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and all rounder Nic Maddinson have been questioned despite Australian dominance in the first Test against Pakistan.

Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade

Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade Photo: Photosport

Wade missed a stumping on Friday and and is yet to impress with the bat since being recalled to the side in November.

The 21-year-old Maddinson has only scored one run in two innings since his selection last month in place of Mitchell Marsh, who lost his place due to a lack of runs.

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has called for selectors to ditch Wade ahead of February's tour of India after the gloveman's Gabba gaffe on Friday.

Wade had been under pressure to improve his keeping skills after his batting mongrel earned a recall for last month's third Test against South Africa in Adelaide.

His glove work came under even more scrutiny in Brisbane after his batting form slipped.

He has managed scores of just four and seven since his recall.

So it wasn't a good look when Wade butchered a regulation stumping chance off spinner Nathan Lyon on Friday night.

Sarfraz Ahmed (31 not out) was well out of his crease when the ball slipped through Wade's grasp.

It was the only blight by a rampant Australia that reduced Pakistan to 8-97 in reply to their 429 first dig by stumps on day two.

But it was enough for Chappell to demand a re-think on Wade.

Chappell believed Wade's keeping would be found wanting on the spin friendly sub continent early next year - and suggested the selectors consider a change now.

"It (stumping chance) was not so difficult, he was so far out of his crease but he didn't pick the bounce or the spin," Chappell told Macquarie Radio.

"The problem is India is our next tour.

"We've got to take our best wicketkeeper to India - and I am not convinced that man is Wade."

Then there is Wade's batting.

The combative left-hander replaced Test 'keeper Peter Nevill to add some fight in the middle order.

Ex-Test batsman Mike Hussey hinted Wade no longer filled that brief.

"Selectors are clouded because there have been so many batting collapses so they feel they have to pick our best batting wicketkeeper first," he said.

"There is a perception that Wade is batting better than Nevill.

"They may have to review that before the tour (of India)."

Meanwhile, Maddinson's place in the side has been queried by Hussey's former Australian team mates Simon Katich and Chris Rogers

Speculation is mounting that the the left handed Maddinson has opened the door for a recovering Shaun Marsh to make a Boxing Day Test return.

Nic Maddinson walks back to the dressing room folowing his dismissal

Nic Maddinson walks back to the dressing room folowing his dismissal Photo: AFP

The Test No.6 finally registered his first run in his second Test. And even that was hard fought.

He was dropped at short leg off legspinner Yasir Shah on nought - after a duck in a nightmare debut last month in Adelaide.

A nervous Maddinson somehow survived to finally get off the mark on his fifth ball with a flick off the pads against Yasir.

The Gabba crowd gave a huge cheer.

It provided a brief respite.

Maddinson was out soon after, caught behind off left-arm speedster Wahab Riaz.

His innings lasted eight balls.

"It was a tentative shot; it was almost as if he was trying to leave it," former Test opener Simon Katich told ABC radio.

Maddinson was cut some slack after his 12-ball duck on debut in Adelaide against South Africa.

He was bowled by a beautiful Kagiso Rabada delivery - with a pink ball, on a green top, at night.

But few could defend Maddinson's scratchy display on Friday.

"I am not sure what was going through his head - he looked on edge," ex- Australian opener Chris Rogers said.

Maddinson's dismal form augers well for Marsh's return from a broken finger.

Marsh hopes to prove his fitness in the Perth Scorchers' December 23 Big Bash League clash with the Adelaide Strikers.

Not much could make the situation worse for Maddinson - until he looked around his dressing room.

The two other batsmen ushered with him into the Test team in Adelaide - Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb - have gone from strength to strength in Brisbane.

Opener Renshaw hit 71 on Thursday at the Gabba - his maiden Test half-century.

And Handscomb struck his debut Test ton, finally dismissed on Friday for 105.

"I think it also highlights how well Renshaw and Handscomb have done," Rogers said of Maddinson's wobbly form.

"It's not just getting the score - it's looking comfortable.

"Maddinson was feeling the pressure and not playing the game he plays best."

- AAP / RNZ

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs

We have regular online commentary of local and international sport.