Chairman of selectors George Bailey believes Jake Weatherald will definitely be in contention for the upcoming Ashes 2025-26. Despite Weatherald being not sent to the Australia A tour to India in September, Weatherald will be in the mix although batting incumbent Sam Konstas has been sent to India to further develop his game in different conditions.
Jake Weatherald who is 30 years of age was the Sheffield Shield’s leading run-scorer last season as he made 906 runs at an average of 50.33 including three centuries while opening the batting in difficult conditions in Hobart. He backed that up with 54 and 183 in two unofficial Tests for Australia A against Sri Lanka A last month in Darwin. For the A tour of India, though, Test incumbent Konstas is alongside another Test candidate Nathan McSweeney and promising 22-year-old Victoria Opener Campbell Kellaway.
George Bailey’s views on Jake Weatherald
Speaking in Darwin on Thursday ahead of Australia’s opening T20I against South Africa on Sunday, Bailey mentioned that the Australia A squad was selected with the 2027 Test tour of India in mind and expects the conditions to have little relevance to the upcoming Ashes. Konstas is among a host of players who will miss the white-ball portion of the A tour in order to return for the start of Shield season where Bailey said the first three rounds will be “critical” for Ashes selection.
Bailey declared Weatherald as a player firmly in the mix to open the batting in the opening Test of the Ashes in Perth. Speaking to reporters, Bailey said: “He’s doing a lot of things right, isn’t he? His performance last year was awesome. His performance in the Australia A matches was great, too. So, that’s the clear message to him, on the back of tackling him through the Australia A selections, the clear focus for him is just to continue that and be consistent. A lot of selection is potentially being in the right place at the right time. So if he starts the year as he had last year, he’ll be well in the mix,”
Australian Top Order Needs To Be Fixed Ahead Of Ashes
If there is one thing that needs to be fixed for Australia that came through in the Caribbean was that the top order needs to be fixed. They were found wanting albeit under difficult conditions against West Indies fast bowlers. Usman Khawaja despite getting starts could not carry it through but because of his experience is a certain starter for the first Test match in Perth. It is who is going to be his opening partner remains to be seen.
Sam Konstas had a wretched series in West Indies but former players have backed him to come back stronger. Cameron Green did decently at Number 3 but he is not a permanent solution there once he starts bowling. He is likely to move down the order then. So, the eyes will be on domestic cricket and Jake Weatherald is a good option since his record in Shield was outstanding last season. If he can carry on the form, then he will definitely be in the reckoning.
Then there is Nathan McSweeney who made his Test debut against India and then fell by the wayside after 3 Test matches. He can come back in the side. So, there are lots of names floating around and the start of the domestic season could be crucial for Australia to find their top order batters. Plus, is there a place for Marnus Labuschagne back in the side as his experience in the batting order could prove to be handy against England. He needs to bat at 3 and not open should Labuschagne come back in the side.
A lot of these questions will be answered as we get closer to the Ashes. Australia will pick players by form and there is nothing called reputation for them. Let’s see who they pick but whoever they pick will go out there and put in their best efforts against England who will also not give up easily. A cracking Ashes awaits us all.
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