Jake Weatherald (or “Jack” if you’re Usman Khawaja, apparently) is in a two-Tasmanian shootout with Beau Webster for the last spot in the Australian XI for the Perth Ashes Test — and it must be Weatherald.
Either makes sense, really, considering how good they’ve both been over the last few years, but with Webster in the lineup, it basically forces the returning Marnus Labuschagne to open alongside Ussie (and you know how I feel about that already). That would fit Webster in, but leave our one-two punch lacking in a big way compared to the alternative.
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Instead, Weatherald must start with Khawaja and be given the chance to cut his teeth right at the top of the order. It’s a perfect combo, too, with Weatherald an aggressive left-handed batsman who can complement his veteran partner.
That would set the Aussie lineup Friday as:
- Usman Khawaja
- Jake Weatherald
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Steve Smith (c)
- Travis Head
- Cameron Green
- Alex Carey (wk)
- Mitchell Starc
- Brendan Doggett
- Scott Boland
- Nathan Lyon
That’s not to say it will be easy for the Tasmanian, of course — Weatherald himself even admitted as such, declaring “it’s certainly going to be a difficult thing” after the team practised together in Perth on Tuesday.
“That’s a part of being an international cricketer, the fact there’s lot more to it,” he continued.
“But at the same time, I think that’s going to be the true test for myself, to go out there and just try and operate the same way.”
How Weatherald has “operated” is as big an argument as any, too. He’s played 145 first-class innings, all as opener, knocking out 5,322 runs over that career with 13 hundreds and 26 fifties. He’s also nearly at 100 appearances in the Big Bash League, where he averages 25.82 in the short-over format and set 115 off 70 to help Adelaide win the 2017-18 grand final.
It was all that he served up in the nets against Pat Cummins’ pace, Beau Webster’s bounce, and Nathan Lyon’s lethal spin. It was enough for Webster, the man he’s battling for the last spot, to call him “a revelation at the top of the order.”
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“We were crying out a little bit for someone who can take the game away early in the innings, and he does that. We saw even a couple of knocks this year to go with his exceptional year last year, where he puts the pressure back on the bowlers. And he does it quickly. He bats how you want to as an opening batter in Australia right now,” Webster declared.
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Former Australian captain Ian Chappell seems to agree, calling it “stupid” to consider having Labuschagne at the top of the order when he’s back to riveting form in the number three position. “He’s a No.3 and I think at his best he’s a very good No.3,” Chappel said. “I think it would be stupid to try and open with him, in which case you’d have to open with Weatherald.”
Mark Taylor agreed: “I think that’s why he’ll play, he’s got to play… he’s deserved selection.”
The Sporting Base understands the selectors will pick the lineup on Thursday.
