Matthew Wade fires a bullet at Grant Elliott | Image | Fox Sports
As Australia went down in its series-deciding one-day international against New Zealand on Monday night, Aussie keeper Matthew Wade was heard delivering a savage sledge to Kiwi bowler Grant Elliott.
The barb was made by Wade while he was batting and was picked up by a stump microphone.
In the over after Mitchell Marsh was controversially dismissed and sent packing by the third umpire, Wade told Elliott: “only a f—ing coward sledges people when they walk off”.
Elliott could be heard replying: “Love your work.”
Marsh was given out after he hit a ball onto his boot and into the hands of bowler Matt Henry who only half-heartedly appealed before returning to his bowling mark.
Players wait for third umpire to give Marsh out | Image | Fox Sports
But after the moment was replayed on a big screen at the ground, umpires called in the third umpire who gave Marsh out.
A furious Marsh stormed off the ground, clearly swearing and appearing to snub an advance from NZ captain Brendon McCullum.
In more bad news for the Aussie keeper, on Tuesday it was announced Wade had been dropped from the Australian squad that will play in the Twenty20 World Cup.
Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh justified the decision on the basis of Wade’s forms with the gloves.
“We feel our batting depth in this squad is sufficient enough that we can have a specialist wicketkeeper in the squad,” Marsh said.
“We want Australia’s best wicketkeeper playing in this tournament and we consider Peter Nevill to be the best in the country right now.”
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