SYDNEY - Australian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade said he will never forget his thrilling unbeaten century against Sri Lanka in the third Test on Saturday.
The third day of the Sydney Test is promoted as pink day when players and fans are urged to sport pink in tribute to Jane McGrath, the wife of Australian fast bowling great Glenn McGrath who died from breast cancer in 2008.
The McGrath Foundation has raised millions of dollars for breast cancer care and the Australian government on Saturday provided a further Aus$18.5 million (US$19.5 million) to the foundation for specialist breast cancer care nurses.
Wade, who survived testicular cancer at the age of 16, said it was a special day to raise his second Test century.
“It was a great day to be part of,” Wade said. “To do it on a day like today, with the McGrath Foundation day, was something special. I’ll remember it. “It was a special day to be a part of. It was a very special day for me and one I’ll never forget.”
His cancer was only detected after he received a blow to the groin while playing football and the resultant swelling forced him to visit a doctor who discovered the greater problem.
“Had it not been for that hit in the testicles, I wouldn’t have had any idea,” he said previously.
Wade rushed towards his teammates in the Sydney Cricket Ground Members Stand on Saturday and kissed his helmet after crashing Suranga Lakmal for a boundary to raise his century off 158 balls, after setting out on the third day on 47.
Wade opened up in a last-wicket stand of 39 with Bird and finished 102 not out offering skipper Michael Clarke the opportunity to declare his team’s innings at 432 for nine in the half hour before lunch.
“Driving to the ground today I didn’t think that would happen but it was an amazing feeling,” he said.
“I was really keen to make a good score in this last Test match. I was feeling I was building toward something.
“I feel I’ve been tweaking my form a little bit with the bat so I was pretty confident of getting a score I was happy with.”
It was only Wade’s ninth Test match and he was promoted to number six in the Australian batting order for this Test to accommodate the selection of four specialist fast bowlers in a lengthy tailend.
“Batting towards the end of the innings the situation dictates the way that you’ve got to play at times, so I’ve been lucky enough to bat up towards the top of the innings and bat down the bottom,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve got enough experience in both positions and how to bat with the tail.”
Wade scored 106 against the West Indies in his third Test match in Dominica last April. He has now scored 501 runs at 45.54 in Tests.