Matthew Wade retires from BBL to join Australian coaching staff

Australian wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade has announced his retirement from the Big Bash League (BBL) to focus on a full-time coaching career. The 38-year-old will transition into a role as the white-ball batting coach for the Australian men’s national team.

Wade’s BBL career spanned 15 seasons and 119 matches across three clubs: the Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades, and the Hobart Hurricanes. He finished his league career with 2,978 runs, ranking him ninth on the competition’s all-time leading run charts. During his nine seasons with the Hurricanes, he became the franchise's third-highest run-scorer.

Following his international retirement in 2024, Wade had already begun working in an advisory capacity with the Australian squad while playing for the Hurricanes. The decision to step away from domestic cricket allows him to commit fully to his new coaching responsibilities.