[1][2] Tom Wade was born in Essex and began playing for the county cricket team in 1929 as an off-spin bowler and lower-order batsman.

[3] He took 33 wickets in his first season, including his best figures of 5 for 64 in the second innings in a close victory over Somerset.

[3][4] He had fewer opportunities in the next few seasons, although he made his highest score of 96 against Oxford University in 1932.

[3] In late 1936 he was on a private visit to Australia when he was asked to keep wicket for the English touring team, which had lost its two wicket-keepers to illness and injury.

He played in three matches in October and November until Les Ames returned to fitness.