Wade sets sights on 2019 World Cup

Consistency is at the top of Matthew Wade's mind as the Australia wicketkeeper looks ahead to the Cricket World Cup in 2019. Wade was left out of Australia's successful World Cup campaign on home soil last year, with selectors opting for the now retired Brad Haddin in the 15-man squad.

The 28-year-old Victorian Wade knows consistent performances will be key to a potential World Cup berth, starting against India in the opening match of the five-game ODI series on Tuesday.

Consistency is at the top of Matthew Wade's mind as the Australia wicketkeeper looks ahead to the Cricket World Cup in 2019.

Wade was left out of Australia's successful World Cup campaign on home soil last year, with selectors opting for the now retired Brad Haddin in the 15-man squad.

The 28-year-old Victorian Wade, who has scored 1,075 one-day international runs at an average of 25.59 in 53 appearances, was disappointed at the time of his omission and he knows consistent performances will be key to a potential World Cup berth, starting against India in the opening match of the five-game ODI series on Tuesday.

World Cup goal

"It's a goal of mine to perform well enough to be around for that World Cup," Wade told reporters in Perth.

"It's perfect timing in my career to be performing consistently. I'd love to get the opportunity to represent Australia at a World Cup and win one. But there are a lot of matches in between and if I focus too far ahead I'll miss out. It's just about performing day in and day out."

In the short term, Wade and a youthful Australia side are preparing to lock horns against the Indians at the WACA, with uncapped duo Scott Boland and Joel Paris to lead a fresh-faced pace attack next week.

Wade believes Victoria team-mate Boland, who was in the squad for Australia's three-Test series against West Indies which wrapped up in Sydney on Thursday, can make an instant impact for the Aussies.

"I've had a lot to do with Scott Boland and his progress over the last 18 months has been phenomenal," Wade told reporters.

"To play in front of big crowds, I mean 80,000 at the MCG [for last weekend's Melbourne derby when Boland's Stars beat the Renegades], that's international cricket kind of stuff.

"They don't have to do anything different to what they normally do."

Wade added: "He'll bowl at the end a little bit in one-day cricket for Australia. That will probably be his role.

"There's definitely an opening there for him. He has worked really hard over the last 18 months to really hone those skills and be a finisher. That has probably got him picked in the Australian team to be honest.

"He can bowl upfront with a newer ball but his death stuff has been outstanding over the last 12 months so he'll own that and hopefully dominate that for us."