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United News of India
7 hours ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Weatherald puts name in Ashes reckoning with big hundred
Sydney, July 22 (UNI) Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald's 13th first-class century has ensured he will be part of the Ashes selection conversation after putting Sri Lanka A to the sword in Darwin. Just a week after Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald said his openers for the first Test against England weren't locked in, Australia A's Weatherald blitzed 183 to continue to build his case for a baggy green on November 21. On a docile Marrara pitch, the Darwin-born left-handed opener had some nervous moments as he approached his milestone and had to sit on 96 not out over the lunch break. A quick single off quick Shiran Fernando brought up his century, which he celebrated by placing his helmet on the end of his bat and raising it above his head, much to the delight of his teammates. The 30-year-old crashed everything outside off for four and was selective in his big shots against the spinners and was only out, chopped on, in the final overs of the day. He shared a 209-run partnership with his captain Jason Sangha, who not to be outdone, finished the day unbeaten on 121 as the hosts reduced the Lankans' lead to 106 runs with a day to play. Sangha hit a series of delightful drives in his typically innings, which will no doubt ease the pain of making a duck in last week's four-day fixture. Weatherald is coming off the best summer of his career where he finished as the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield, plundering 905 runs with centuries against Queensland (186), Victoria (155) and New South Wales (145). That led to a promising 54 on Australia A debut in the first four-day match last week, and when met with another favourable batting surface ensured he took full toll against the visiting Sri Lankans. "As a batter, you're trying to put yourself forward to play for Australia. That's why we're here," Weatherald said after play on day three. "It's why you play domestic cricket. Making runs is your best currency to getting higher honours. "It was a good opportunity to make a big score and thankfully, I made one today." In the wake of last week's Test series win over West Indies, Australia coach Andrew McDonald confirmed there was still plenty to play out before the selectors settled on their openers for the Ashes. "It feels as though we're still a little bit unsettled in terms of what our combinations look like at the top of the order with the way that the performances have gone here (against West Indies)," McDonald said after the Caribbean red-ball matches. "There's a lot of cricket still to come to be able to gather that information." Weatherald admitted the selectors hadn't been in touch with him about the prospect of higher honours but was heartened by his selection in the Australian A side. "If you keep making runs, of course, you're going to get noticed more. And I've done that," Weatherald said. "I'm batting well and I'm ready to go if it comes to that moment." Earlier, the Aussies resumed the day on 1-76 and NSW No.3 Kurtis Patterson compiled a composed 59 before Sonal Dinusha took a sharp catch at backward point from a full-blooded square drive. However with no demons in the Marrara wicket, it was a day for the batters with Australia A chalking up 2-203 for the day, in reply to Sri Lanka A's commanding 6d-485. UNI BM
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Weatherald boosts Ashes stocks with big Aust A ton
Darwin-born Jake Weatherald has sealed a happy homecoming and put his name in the conversation surrounding Australia's opening batter conundrum with an imperious hundred for Australia A against Sri Lanka A. Starting day three of the second four-day game on 45, Tasmania's Weatherald powered to 183 in a magnificent 275-ball innings punctuated by 16 fours and two sixes. His knock - and an unbeaten 121 from captain Jason Sangha - took Australia from 1-76 on the resumption to a strong 3-379 by stumps on Tuesday, in reply to Sri Lanka A's 6-485 declared. With the Darwin pitch ideal for batting the chance of a result looks slim, with the series poised to end 0-0 after game one finished in a stalemate. Most discussion out of the match, then, may centre on Weatherald after the 30-year-old made hay on the Marrara Cricket Ground pitch to score his 13th first class century. You're in the zone when you don't even realise you've hit a milestone! Weatherald goes to 150 #AUSAvSLA — (@cricketcomau) July 22, 2025 Coming after his 54 in his only innings in game one, the knock was a timely reminder to national selectors as they weigh top order options for this summer's home Ashes after a bleak tour of the West Indies for openers. Usman Khawaja has averaged 15.37 through eight Test innings this calendar year and will turn 39 during the Ashes. The 19-year-old Sam Konstas fared even worse when recalled to partner Khawaja in the recent 3-0 Test series romp in the Caribbean, averaging 8.33 and looking well short of the finished article. Nathan McSweeney - dropped after averaging 14.40 through his first three Tests last summer against India - made 94 for Australia A last week to push his case for a possible recall, but failed on Monday in the second match, making 12. An Australia A century for Jason Sangha! Stream it live: | #AusAvSLA — (@cricketcomau) July 22, 2025 Into calculations for a top-of-the-order Test debut in the Ashes comes Weatherald, who opened for Australia A and raised his ton on Tuesday off 146 deliveries, scoring in virtually every part of the ground. The left-hander is coming off the finest summer of his career, in which he topped the Sheffield Shield competition with 905 runs. His three tons - as with his effort on Tuesday - showed his capacity to push on to make a big hundred, scoring 186 against Queensland, 155 against Victoria and 145 against NSW. On Tuesday, he and Kurtis Patterson took their second wicket partnership to 134 before Patterson was caught at point for 59 reaching for a wide delivery from paceman Asanka Manoj. Weatherald and Sangha piled on 209 for the third wicket before Weatherald was bowled by off-spinner Nuwanidu Fernando.
West Australian
9 hours ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Jake Weatherald scored 183 opening the batting for Australia A against Sri Lanka
Ashes hopeful Jake Weatherald has built further momentum to his Test push with an exquisite century for Australia A in Darwin. The reigning Sheffield Shield player of the year clubbed 16 fours and two towering sixes on his way to 183 against Sri Lanka A after Australian coach Andrew McDonald put the Test opening spot out to tender in the wake of Sam Konstas' dismal West Indian adventure. He was seemingly poised to hit a maiden first-class double ton before dragging on with less than 10 minutes before stumps. Weatherald, 30, is among a handful of openers preparing to contend for Ashes spots later this year and enhanced his chances with the bold dig. He out-batted fellow Test aspirants Nathan McSweeney (12) and Kurtis Patterson (59) before sharing a 209-run partnership with emerging gun Jason Sangha (121no). Sangha has earmarked himself as a future star of Australian cricket in the past six months, supporting a Sheffield Shield final ton in March with his century for Aus A. Weatherald's innings adds to a career-best Shield season where he topped the run chart with 906. The Tasmanian spoke exclusively to this masthead prior to the Australian A series in Darwin. He said he was watching the Aussie top order closely but conceded a lot had to go right for him to earn a baggy green. 'Most would be lying if they said it wasn't on their mind, especially with all the stuff going on in the Australian team, there's opportunities being provided to those who are doing well,' he said. 'I am not sure what the future holds, I've still got to take a lot more opportunities but from a belief point of view I believe I am good enough to play. 'At the same time I have to prove that with performances in the Australia A stuff and have to have a bit of luck as well, other players might have to miss out for me to come in. 'Everything has to sort of work out, move the right pieces at the right time, but to be this close is an amazing feeling anyway to be suggested I could be around that mark.' Weatherald's knock is a precursor to what is being dubbed 'a great Ashes bat off' in the early parts of the Shield season. Australian coach Andrew McDonald has repeatedly said the opening rounds of the summer will hold considerable weight in first Test selection. 'We're not going to shy away from the fact that will be big for certain individuals to go about their work, put some scores on the board, and, and then for us to look at what we need against England,' McDonald said. Australia A finished the day 106 runs in arrears of Sri Lanka's first innings total.
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Opener's 183 reasons for an Ashes gig
Ashes hopeful Jake Weatherald has built further momentum to his Test push with an exquisite century for Australia A in Darwin. The reigning Sheffield Shield player of the year clubbed 16 fours and two towering sixes on his way to 183 against Sri Lanka A after Australian coach Andrew McDonald put the Test opening spot out to tender in the wake of Sam Konstas' dismal West Indian adventure. He was seemingly poised to hit a maiden first-class double ton before dragging on with less than 10 minutes before stumps. Weatherald, 30, is among a handful of openers preparing to contend for Ashes spots later this year and enhanced his chances with the bold dig. He out-batted fellow Test aspirants Nathan McSweeney (12) and Kurtis Patterson (59) before sharing a 209-run partnership with emerging gun Jason Sangha (121no). Sangha has earmarked himself as a future star of Australian cricket in the past six months, supporting a Sheffield Shield final ton in March with his century for Aus A. Weatherald's innings adds to a career-best Shield season where he topped the run chart with 906. The Tasmanian spoke exclusively to this masthead prior to the Australian A series in Darwin. He said he was watching the Aussie top order closely but conceded a lot had to go right for him to earn a baggy green. 'Most would be lying if they said it wasn't on their mind, especially with all the stuff going on in the Australian team, there's opportunities being provided to those who are doing well,' he said. 'I am not sure what the future holds, I've still got to take a lot more opportunities but from a belief point of view I believe I am good enough to play. 'At the same time I have to prove that with performances in the Australia A stuff and have to have a bit of luck as well, other players might have to miss out for me to come in. 'Everything has to sort of work out, move the right pieces at the right time, but to be this close is an amazing feeling anyway to be suggested I could be around that mark.' Weatherald's knock is a precursor to what is being dubbed 'a great Ashes bat off' in the early parts of the Shield season. Australian coach Andrew McDonald has repeatedly said the opening rounds of the summer will hold considerable weight in first Test selection. 'We're not going to shy away from the fact that will be big for certain individuals to go about their work, put some scores on the board, and, and then for us to look at what we need against England,' McDonald said. Australia A finished the day 106 runs in arrears of Sri Lanka's first innings total.
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Jake Weatherald scored 183 opening the batting for Australia A against Sri Lanka
Ashes hopeful Jake Weatherald has built further momentum to his Test push with an exquisite century for Australia A in Darwin. The reigning Sheffield Shield player of the year clubbed 16 fours and two towering sixes on his way to 183 against Sri Lanka A after Australian coach Andrew McDonald put the Test opening spot out to tender in the wake of Sam Konstas' dismal West Indian adventure. He was seemingly poised to hit a maiden first class double ton before dragging on with less than 10 minutes before stumps. Weatherald, 30, is among a handful of openers preparing to contend for Ashes spots later this year and enhanced his chances with the bold dig. He out-batted fellow Test aspirants Nathan McSweeney (12) and Kurtis Patterson (59) before sharing a 209-run partnership with emerging gun Jason Sangha (121no). Sangha has earmarked himself as a future star of Australian cricket in the past six months, supporting a Sheffield Shield final ton in March with his century for Aus A. Weatherald's innings adds to a career-best Shield season where he topped the run chart with 906. The Tasmanian spoke exclusively to this masthead prior to the Australian A series in Darwin. He said he was watching the Aussie top order closely but conceded a lot had to go right for him to earn a baggy green. 'Most would be lying if they said it wasn't on their mind, especially with all the stuff going on in the Australian team, there's opportunities being provided to those who are doing well,' he said. 'I am not sure what the future holds, I've still got to take a lot more opportunities but from a belief point of view I believe I am good enough to play. 'At the same time I have to prove that with performances in the Australia A stuff and have to have a bit of luck as well, other players might have to miss out for me to come in. 'Everything has to sort of work out, move the right pieces at the right time, but to be this close is an amazing feeling anyway to be suggested I could be around that mark.' Weatherald's knock is a precursor to what is being dubbed 'a great Ashes bat off' in the early parts of the Shield season. Australian coach Andrew McDonald has repeatedly said the opening rounds of the summer will hold considerable weight in first Test selection. 'We're not going to shy away from the fact that will be big for certain individuals to go about their work, put some scores on the board, and, and then for us to look at what we need against England,' McDonald said. Australia A finished the day 106 runs in arrears of Sri Lanka's first innings total.
