Jake Weatherald Reaches Triple Figures Again, Strengthens Test Debut Case

Australia A opener Jake Weatherald has further pressed his case for a maiden national call-up by notching a century during the second unofficial Test against Sri Lanka A in Darwin, his city of birth.

Unbeaten on 45 overnight, the left-hander reached triple figures in 146 deliveries on day three at Marrara Oval, cracking 11 boundaries during the stylish knock. The 30-year-old, who was fortunate to survive on 96 late in the morning session when an edge dropped agonisingly short of first slip, also scored a half-century during last week’s four-day match against Sri Lanka at the same venue.

In response to Sri Lanka A’s 6-485 declared, Australia A was 2-184 after 50 overs, with Weatherald (100*) and captain Jason Sangha (13*) unbeaten in the middle.

Weatherald thrust himself in the national conversation after finishing last summer’s Sheffield Shield campaign as the leading run-scorer with 906 at 50.33 and a healthy strike rate of 68.27, including three centuries and three fifties in ten matches.

After eight seasons with South Australia, Weatherald reinvigorated his first-class career by moving to Tasmania ahead of the 2023/24 summer, since cementing himself as an integral member of the Tigers’ starting XI.

He looms as a left-field option to open alongside Usman Khawaja during the upcoming Ashes campaign, while he’s one of the leading candidates to replace the Queenslander whenever he decides to retire from Tests.