Wade says 'too green' pitches, not BBL, responsible for Oz batting woes

Australian cricketer Matthew Wade has blamed the introduction of too many green pitches, instead of Cricket Australia's emphasis on promoting the Twenty20 Big Bash League, as responsible for the batting woes of the team in the Ashes.

Wade's suggestions come after CA came under fire for its pre-planned marketing blitz for this summer's Big Bash League, only hours after Australia's 347-run slaughter at Lord's.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Wade, who is the back-up wicketkeeper on the Ashes tour, has two Test centuries to his name and hopes to use the three-day game against Sussex to push for his inclusion in the third Test at Old Trafford as a specialist batsman.

Insisting that the inclusion of the BBL on the domestic calendar during the holiday period is not to blame for Australia's consistent failings with the bat at Test level, Wade said that the preparation of result-driven, bowler-friendly pitches for the Shield is instead responsible for the performance of the batsmen.

According to the Victorian gloveman, the pitches have not been ideal as they have been greener than before, which, he added, is an issue for batsmen not being able to score hitting big hundreds, instead of a technical issue.

Wade also said that the BBL is good for him and also for improving the game of younger players as it puts a player under the kind of pressure that happens in a Test match rather than a first-class match with the big crowds.

Meanwhile, former Test captain Ricky Ponting said he was 'flabbergasted' by the timing of the promotion of the BBL, which will reportedly run from December 20 to February 15, with the Sheffield Shield played either side of that window.