Matthew Wade says he's willing to ditch the gloves and prove his worth as a batsman up the order with Tasmania to push his case for a Test recall.

Wade is this season's leading run-scorer in the JLT Sheffield Shield with 571 at 63.44 and believes he would be an ideal fit in the middle order for a Test side that has been struggling with the bat.

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Overlooked for a recall to the side for the two-match Domain Test series against Sri Lanka as selectors made wholesale changes to the batting unit that lost to India, Wade admitted it was "frustrating" to be left on the sidelines.

"I feel like my form is as good as anyone in the country," Wade told Fox Sports News.

"When Justin (Langer, the Australia coach) first took over he said that weight of runs would be the leverage to get selected, and I feel like I've put the runs on the board over a long period of time.

"I'm hoping they're not just looking at me as a specialist keeper, I hope they are looking at me as a batsman as well.

"If I have to prove that in Shield cricket, I will. I'll come up the order and take off the gloves."

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The 31-year-old has played 22 Tests and been dropped twice from the national team, most recently ahead of last summer's Ashes series for state teammate Tim Paine, now the national captain.

National Selection Panel chairman Trevor Hohns, who revealed the squad to face Sri Lanka on Wednesday, said he had already indicated to Wade a move up the order would be viewed favourably by the national selectors.

"He's playing as a wicketkeeper-batsman for Tasmania and it just so happens we have a wicketkeeper-batsman in our Test side who is the captain," said Hohns, referring to Paine.

"If Matthew wants to be considered as a straight-out batsman it would be nice to see him batting a little higher up for Tasmania and that conversation has been had."

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting endorsed Wade for a Test recall in the midst of the India series.

"For (those next in line for) a Test batting spot, I said Matthew Wade a few weeks ago," Ponting told cricket.com.au in late December. "He's the form player in the Sheffield Shield, no doubt about that – 571 runs I think he's made so far.

"We've seen already in the Big Bash as well that he's in really good touch, and he probably deserves a chance over anybody else right now because he's simply put the numbers on the board.

"And that's one of the big things I know Justin Langer and the selectors are talking about – if you're scoring runs, then you're a great chance of getting picked. So you can't fault what Matthew Wade's done so far this season."

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Wade played three Shield games alongside Paine before this summer's Test series started, scoring an unbeaten 137 at Blundstone Arena against his old teammates from Victoria.

"It was a blessing in disguise that I got to play just as a batter with Tim in the team, so it probably showed the selectors that I can play as a specialist batsman," Wade said.

"I'm not batting in the top four of five at the moment for Tasmania, but at the moment in the Test team I feel like number five or six, that role would suit me perfectly.

"I'm arguably batting on the worst wicket in the country. Granted it is at six, but I feel like I'm in pretty early in most innings. They might want me to come up the order, maybe that's something that I can look at.

Wade opened the Shield season with four consecutive half-centuries, at the Gabba and the WACA. From No.6 he's been in twice in the 14th over of the innings, scoring 51 in the second innings against Queensland, and 14 against Victoria when the side was bundled out for 81.

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That was the same game where his second-innings century helped the team rebound to post 476 en route to a six-wicket win.

He also scored 63 coming in during the 17th over of Tasmania's first innings against Queensland in Hobart in the last round before the Big Bash break.

He concedes his career as an international wicketkeeper is "probably done" but he has not given up hope of dusting off his Baggy Green, and has been encouraged by the communication with the head coach.

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"I feel like my weight of runs as a batsman should be looked at," Wade said.

"Justin Langer shot me an email before the start of the last Test just saying well done on my performances.

"Justin didn't have to reach out to me. I wasn't selected in any of the teams. He didn't have to reach out, so it was nice to have a little bit of communication.

Should Wade decide to hand over wicketkeeping duties, Tasmania has options with both Jake Doran and Ben McDermott accomplished wicketkeepers.