Worcestershire CCC 2022 overseas signing, Matthew Wade, demonstrated the tough side of his character after revealing he played the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final with a grade two tear in his side.
The wicket-keeper-batsman suffered the setback during Australia’s final net session in Dubai the day before the game against New Zealand.
He was sent for a scan but was determined to play and helped Australia lift the trophy via an eight-wicket success on Sunday after being their semi-final hero versus Pakistan.
Wade, available to play all formats for Worcestershire next summer, said: “I did my side the second last ball before the end of the net session the day before the game.
“I didn’t really want to go for a scan but they sent me and the physio and doctor hid the information from me and said ‘let’s see how you pull up tomorrow and we will go from there.’
“It was about the same as it felt the night before so I went and hit some balls and tried to bluff my way through that, and then they made me hit a few more, so I got through it and felt pretty fine.”
Australian captain, Aaron Finch, paid tribute to Wade for going through the pain barrier to play in the final.
He said: “I thought a grade two tear in his side was going to be tough but if anyone’s going to play it would have been him.
“You would have had to cut his leg off for him not to be out there. I thought he kept brilliantly.”
