Tasmania opener pushes his case for higher honours after century against Sri Lanka A
Tea time report: 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.
Australia A’s Weatherald reached his hundred from 146 deliveries to continue to build his case for a spot in Australia’s XI for the first Test against England on November 21.
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.
However, after a promising 54 on Australia A debut in the first four-day match last week, the 30-year-old wouldn’t miss out again and got to his ton with a quick single off quick Shiran Fernando. 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.
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 three-Test series in the Caribbean.
“There’s a lot of cricket still to come to be able to gather that information.”
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).
Australia A skipper Jason Sangha was unbeaten on 56 at the tea break following a composed 59 from NSW No.3 Kurtis Patterson.
Sri Lanka A declared near the end of day two on a commanding 6d-485 but there were no demons in the Marrara wicket to suggest the home side couldn’t match that total.
More to come.
Australia A v Sri Lanka A series
July 4: First one-dayer: Australia A won by 198 runs
July 6: Second one-dayer: Sri Lanka A won by 51 runs
July 9: Third one-dayer: Australia A won by seven wickets
July13-16: First four-day match: Match drawn
July 20-23: Second four-day match, Marrara Cricket Ground, Darwin
All matches live streamed on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app, and via Kayo Sports. All matches start 10:30am AEST.
