Last year, Australia was really struggling to find solid Test openers. They tried a bunch of different things, like moving Nathan McSweeney from his usual No. 3 spot to face the new ball against Jasprit Bumrah, and then giving Sam Konstas a shot. But nothing really worked out.
Now, a year later, the selectors have had it. They’re going back to basics and have picked a true, specialist opener: Jake Weatherald.
The 29-year-old from South Australia has been a really reliable opener in domestic cricket for a while now, and he’s finally getting his chance to play internationally. He’s been added to the Ashes squad before the first Test in Perth, showing that they’re done with temporary fixes.
Jake’s been great opening for South Australia, said chief selector George Bailey when he told the news. He’s got the skills and mindset to do well against the new ball, and we think now’s the perfect time to give him a go.
Balancing the XI: Weatherald’s Dream Hinges on Green’s Fitness
Though Weatherald’s selection has dominated headlines, his debut isn’t entirely guaranteed. The final decision may hinge on Cameron Green’s bowling workload over the coming week. Bailey confirmed that the all-rounder is expected to bowl between 15 and 20 overs for Western Australia against Queensland — a key fitness test before the Ashes opener.
If Green proves his readiness to bowl full spells, Weatherald is likely to make his Test debut and open alongside Usman Khawaja, allowing Marnus Labuschagne to retain his preferred No. 3 position. However, if Green’s bowling remains restricted, Beau Webster could retain his spot as the all-rounder at No. 6, complicating the final balance of the side.
A More Settled Batting Core
Australia’s batting lineup seems way more solid this Ashes summer compared to last season. Labuschagne and Steve Smith are both playing great right now. Smith just scored a century in Queensland, and Labuschagne has smashed five centuries in his last eight innings.
Khawaja’s also off to a good start this season. His experience will be super important when facing England’s fast bowlers, Mark Wood and Jofra Archer. Plus, Weatherald is in good form and ready to go, so there’s a good feeling that Australia can kick things off well in Perth.
The Bigger Picture
It’s way different from last year when Bumrah and the guys took apart a shaky Australian team during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Since then, Australia has slowly gotten back on track and now has a solid group of awesome batters backed by some eager new players.
What’s funny is that everyone was worried about Pat Cummins not being there, but now it feels like no big deal since Weatherald got picked.
If he actually gets his Baggy Green on November 21st, it won’t just be a big deal for him; it might be the moment when Australia’s year of trying stuff out turns into a time of being steady and knowing what they want at the top of the batting lineup.