Weatherald throws in name for Australia opening spot for Ashes ICC World Test Championship

Int'l Cricket Council

4 days ago

Jake Weatherald has been knocking on the door for senior selection with consistent performances in domestic cricket.
He topped the run charts in last year's Sheffield Shield with 905 runs at an average of 50.33, including three centuries.
Weatherald carried that form into the Sri Lanka 'A' series, notching up scores of 54 and a commanding 183 in the two matches.
With a mountain of runs piled up in domestic since his debut in 2016, Weatherald's consistency will be hard to ignore. The 30-year-old has scored 5021 runs in 73 first-class matches at an average of 37.47, and will have his name in the hat for a senior call-up ahead of the Ashes later this year.
"If you keep making runs, of course you're going to get noticed more, and I've done that," Weatherald said after his innings of 183 against Sri Lanka 'A'. "Obviously there's some great candidates there as well, and they've earned their right to be there.
"So to be amongst them is a pretty proud moment.
"But I'm batting well, and I think I'm ready to go if it comes to that moment."
Weatherald's form comes at an ideal time for Australia, who may be eyeing fresh options at the top of the order following a dip in form during the recent Test series against West Indies.
Despite Australia recording a 3-0 series sweep and leading the World Test Championship standings with 36 points, concerns remain around the top order. Usman Khawaja managed only 117 runs across three matches at an average of 19.50, while youngster Sam Konstas struggled with just 50 runs at 8.33.
Their partnership reached double figures only thrice, while on two occasions, Australia lost a wicket without a run being scored.
The opening pair reached double figures only three times, with Australia losing a wicket for zero on two occasions.
With his experience and recent consistency, the 30-year-old Weatherald could be a timely solution, especially as he feels more assured in his game than ever before.
"Just age, getting used to what I'm doing, understanding my game, understanding what I need to do to make runs and bat [for] long periods of time," Weatherald added on what has made him tick recently.
"And just being confident I can do it in any conditions, just believing that I've got the right method and sticking to it throughout my innings and not being taken away by the wicket or the situation.
"Just being able to lock in and do my thing."
There's still time for both incumbents and challengers to stake their claim for the opening spot, with four rounds of Sheffield Shield action in the new season before the Ashes begins on 21 November.