Hobart Hurricanes skipper Matthew Wade has cooled reports over a fall-out with coach Adam Griffith and says the decision take the wicketkeeping gloves off him is a joint one.
The Hurricanes are priced at 14/1 to win BBL11 after making the finals but there has been plenty of talk over why Wade has not been behind the wickets throughout the tournament.
McDermott preferred
Wade is the wicketkeeper/batsman for the Australian T20 side that recently won the World Cup but Ben McDermott has taken the gloves for the Hurricanes in BBL11.
That has kicked off suggestions of unrest between captain and coach, but Wade has moved quickly to dismiss that theory and says he basically had too much on his plate.
Related Hobart Hurricanes news
McDermott stakes World Cup claim
"It's not Griffo against me here. I'm captain. He's coach. We've made a decision that it's best for the team," Wade said. "I was hearing some things last night and I read a little bit into today. I just want to clear that all up.
"It's it's a decision that me and Griffo made. I would prefer to wicketkeep. I am T20 keeper for Australia. I was going to keep for the tournament.
"Mentally keeping, captaining and batting in the top three, it takes its toll over a long tournament."
Stars mauling
Wade was speaking after the Hurricanes were thrashed by the Melbourne Stars on Wednesday night as Glenn Maxwell made BBL history with a knock of 154 not out.
The Stars also set a worldwide T20 record when scoring 2-273 and the Hurricanes were criticised for resting their three frontline quicks for the finals.
Scott Boland, Riley Meredith and Tom Rogers will all return for finals and Wade explained the decision after the loss.
"Last night wasn't ideal. It was embarrassing," Wade added. "(But) if we lost one of (the three quicks) and we had to roll into a final with a bit of a made-up team, then I'd be pretty flat the morning after.
"So we're pretty confident that we made the right decision by leaving those boys out."
