Jake Weatherald

{{short description|Australian cricketer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Jake Weatherald | fullname = Jake Beath Weatherald | image = 20251224 Jake Weatherald.jpg | caption = Weatherald in December 2025 | birth_date = {{bda|df=y|1994|11|04}} | birth_place = [[Darwin, Northern Territory]], Australia | batting = Left-handed | bowling = [[Leg-break]] | role = [[Batting order (cricket)#Top order|Top-order batter]]

| club1 = [[South Australia cricket team|South Australia]] | year1 = 2015/16–2022/23, 2026/27–present | club2 = [[Adelaide Strikers]] | year2 = {{nowrap|2016/17–2024/25}} | clubnumber2 = | club3 = [[Quetta Gladiators]] | year3 = 2021 | club4 = [[Tasmania cricket team|Tasmania]] | year4 = {{no wrap|2023/24–2025/26}} | club5 = [[Hobart Hurricanes]] | year5 = {{no wrap|2025/26–present}} | club6 = [[Leicestershire County Cricket Club|Leicestershire]] | year6 = 2026 | columns = 4 | column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]] | matches1 = 5 | runs1 = 201 | bat avg1 = 22.33 | 100s/50s1 = 0/1 | top score1 = 72 | deliveries1 = – | wickets1 = – | bowl avg1 = – | fivefor1 = – | tenfor1 = – | best bowling1 = – | catches/stumpings1 = 1/– | column2 = [[First-class cricket|FC]] | matches2 = 91 | runs2 = 6,267 | bat avg2 = 37.98 | 100s/50s2 = 14/32 | top score2 = 198 | deliveries2 = 78 | wickets2 = 1 | bowl avg2 = 63.00 | fivefor2 = 0 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 1/14 | catches/stumpings2 = 66/– | column3 = [[List A cricket|LA]] | matches3 = 51 | runs3 = 1,602 | bat avg3 = 33.37 | 100s/50s3 = 4/8 | top score3 = 141 | deliveries3 = 5 | wickets3 = 0 | bowl avg3 = – | fivefor3 = – | tenfor3 = – | best bowling3 = – | catches/stumpings3 = 17/– | column4 = [[Twenty20|T20]] | matches4 = 98 | runs4 = 2,324 | bat avg4 = 25.82 | 100s/50s4 = 1/15 | top score4 = 115 | deliveries4 = – | wickets4 = – | bowl avg4 = – | fivefor4 = – | tenfor4 = – | best bowling4 = – | catches/stumpings4 = 35/– | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/781285.html ESPNCricinfo | date = 17 May 2026 }}

'''Jake Beath Weatherald''' (born 4 November 1994) is an Australian [[cricket]]er who has represented Australia in [[Test cricket]]. Originally from [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] in the [[Northern Territory]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/northern-territory-product-jake-weatherald-is-preparing-to-play-victoria-in-the-sheffield-shield-final/news-story/4b3f2de0c700d9c71d279ba003482ead |title=Northern Territory product Jake Weatherald is preparing to play Victoria in the Sheffield Shield final |author=Gerrans, Jordan |date=26 March 2016 |newspaper=NT News |access-date=15 October 2016}}</ref> he is an opening batsman who plays for [[South Australia cricket team|South Australia]] in both [[First-class cricket|first-class]] and [[List A cricket|one-day]] cricket and plays for the [[Hobart Hurricanes]] in the [[Big Bash League]]. Weatherald has also previously played domestic cricket for [[Tasmania cricket team|Tasmania]].

==Career== ===Beginnings (2013–2017)=== Weatherald began his cricket career in Darwin, and he got his first major opportunities in the [[South Australian Cricket Association#South Australian Premier League|West End Premier League]], playing for the Northern Territory Strike. He had early successes, scoring a century against [[Papua New Guinea national cricket team|Papua New Guinea]] in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/nt-strike/2013-09-30|title=NT cricket strikes new pathway|last=Ferris|first=Sam|date=30 September 2013|access-date=17 November 2017|website=Cricket.com.au|publisher=[[Cricket Australia]]}}</ref> He then began playing grade cricket in South Australia, initially playing for [[Sturt Cricket Club|Sturt]] as a wicket keeper-batsman before changing clubs to [[Adelaide University Cricket Club|Adelaide University]] before the 2015–16 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/sport/exredback-cameron-borgas-takes-over-as-adelaide-university-coach/news-story/886d40a12219e92ed4281bb5c395fdc3?nk=c12855ad84e52edb48b553d4a7bcdebc-1510918101|title=Ex-Redback Cameron Borgas takes over as Adelaide University coach|last=Turner|first=Matt|date=29 September 2015|access-date=17 November 2017|newspaper=[[Messenger Newspapers]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref> He first made his way into the [[South Australia cricket team]] in February 2016, replacing underperforming veteran [[Mark Cosgrove]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/jamie-siddons-senior-players-notice-ludeman-cooper-dropped-cosgrove-weatherald-carey-redbacks-blues/2016-02-22|title=Siddons puts Redbacks players on notice|last=Jolly|first=Laura|date=22 February 2016|access-date=17 November 2017|website=Cricket.com.au|publisher=[[Cricket Australia]]}}</ref> He scored a half-century in his first-class debut with 58 from 83 balls against [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/sport/territorian-jake-weatherald-enjoyed-his-first-experience-at-sheffield-shield-level-for-south-australia/news-story/152f471d7cf8274d1052e06fb147c57e?nk=c12855ad84e52edb48b553d4a7bcdebc-1510918450|title=Territorian Jake Weatherald enjoyed his first experience at Sheffield Shield level for South Australia|last=Gerrans|first=Jordan|date=2 March 2016|access-date=17 November 2017|newspaper=[[Northern Territory News|NT News]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref> He played for South Australia through the rest of the season as they made their way to the [[2015–16 Sheffield Shield season|2015–16 Sheffield Shield]] final, in which he scored two half-centuries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/sheffield-shield-final-day-four-south-australia-victoria-gliderol-stadium-glenelg-adelaide/2016-03-29|title=Vics with one hand on Shield title|last=Smith|first=Martin|date=29 March 2016|access-date=17 November 2017|website=Cricket.com.au|publisher=[[Cricket Australia]]}}</ref> His form was strong enough to displace Cosgrove on South Australia's contracted player list for the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/cricket/shock-as-south-australia-axes-stalwarts-mark-cosgrove-and-tom-cooper/news-story/aa235067f4e6611dbd18ab4e107ee7e0?nk=c12855ad84e52edb48b553d4a7bcdebc-1510918739|title=Shock as South Australia axes stalwarts Mark Cosgrove and Tom Cooper|last=Earle|first=Richard|date=15 April 2016|access-date=17 November 2017|newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref>

Weatherald was included in South Australia's squad for the [[2016–17 Matador BBQs One-Day Cup]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/17593821/callum-ferguson-captain-raw-south-australia-squad|title=Ferguson to captain raw South Australia squad|date=20 September 2016|access-date=17 November 2017|work=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> in which he made his [[List A cricket|List A]] debut against [[Western Australia cricket team|Western Australia]], scoring 41 runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8626/report/1036443/|title=Rimmington, Carey star in thrilling tie|date=2 October 2016|access-date=17 November 2017|website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> His best performance of the tournament came against [[Cricket Australia XI]] when, opening the batting, he reached his half-century in 31 balls and his century in just 66. He finished with 141 runs, including [[Boundary (cricket)#Scoring runs|17 fours and six sixes]] on the small ground of [[Hurstville Oval]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/south-australia-ca-xi-matador-cup-report-highlights-video-callum-ferguson/2016-10-15|title=Redbacks make history in run-fest|last=Ferris|first=Sam|date=15 October 2016|access-date=17 November 2017|website=Cricket.com.au|publisher=[[Cricket Australia]]}}</ref> Throughout the tournament Weatherald scored a total of 284 runs at a [[Strike rate#Batting strike rate|strike rate]] of 108.81 runs per 100 balls,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/supercoach-bbl-trent-copeland-reveals-13-undertheradar-players-set-to-light-up-big-bash/news-story/0591338e3b2b6d087f7fb9d51264135c?nk=c12855ad84e52edb48b553d4a7bcdebc-1510924545|title=SuperCoach BBL: Trent Copeland reveals 13 under-the-radar players set to light up Big Bash|last=Copeland|first=Trent|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref> earning himself a contract with [[Big Bash League]] team the [[Adelaide Strikers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/adelaide-strikers-jake-weatherald-alex-carey-kfc-big-bash-league-bbl06-squads-signings/2016-10-24|title=Strikers sign young guns for BBL<nowiki>|</nowiki>06|date=24 October 2016|access-date=17 November 2017|website=Cricket.com.au|publisher=[[Cricket Australia]]}}</ref> Across all three forms of cricket, first-class, one-day and [[Twenty20]], Weatherald was the highest run-scorer in Australian domestic cricket under the age of 25 from 11 December 2015 to 9 December 2016, the voting period for the [[Allan Border Medal#Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year|2017 Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year]]. He was the runner-up for the award, only behind Australian [[Test cricket|Test]] player [[Hilton Cartwright]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricket.com.au/news/feature/ab-medal-bradman-young-player-of-the-year-hilton-cartwright-west-australia-sheffield-shield/2017-01-23|title=Cartwright takes out Bradman YC award|last=Ramsey|first=Andrew|date=23 January 2017|access-date=17 November 2017|website=Cricket.com.au|publisher=[[Cricket Australia]]}}</ref>

Weatherald continued to play for South Australia in the [[2016–17 Sheffield Shield season]], taking part in his second successive Sheffield Shield final. In addition to scoring 60 runs in the first innings, his third successive half-century in Shield finals,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/cricket/sheffield-shield-final-victoria-v-south-australia-day-three-action/news-story/898fdd7f47d80a0fdd91db6bb397cdaf?nk=c12855ad84e52edb48b553d4a7bcdebc-1510925205|title=Sheffield Shield final: Victoria v South Australia, day three action|last=Earle|first=Richard|date=28 March 2017|access-date=17 November 2017|newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref> he took his maiden first-class [[Dismissal (cricket)|wicket]]. In his first [[over (cricket)|over]] in domestic cricket, he bowled former Australian Twenty20 captain [[Aaron Finch]] around his legs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/sheffield-shield-final-day-four-victoria-south-australia-alice-springs-highlights-pattinson-holland/2017-03-29|title=Dogged Victoria grind Redbacks into dust|last=Cameron|first=Louis|date=29 March 2017|access-date=18 November 2017|website=Cricket.com.au|publisher=[[Cricket Australia]]}}</ref>

===Breakout season (2017–2018)=== In the leadup to the 2017–18 season, Weatherald played in an Australian intra-squad match in Darwin as the national team prepared for their upcoming [[Australian cricket team in Bangladesh in 2017|tour of Bangladesh]]. He played for a [[David Warner (cricketer)|David Warner]] XI and scored 96 runs from just 52 balls in the first innings, though he was not one of the players in the Australian squad itself and did not go to Bangladesh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/australia-intrasquad-warm-up-game-test-tour-bangladesh-warner-xi-smith-xi-darwin-highlights/2017-08-14|title=Handscomb tons up in Darwin face-off|last=Burnett|first=Adam|date=14 August 2017|access-date=18 November 2017|website=Cricket.com.au|publisher=[[Cricket Australia]]}}</ref>

Weatherald hit form in the [[2017–18 JLT One-Day Cup]], opening the batting with [[Alex Carey]]. The two of them had three hundred-run opening partnerships,<ref name=agame>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/jake-weatherald-says-redbacks-will-be-on-their-agame-against-mitch-starcs-blues-in-shield-opener/news-story/bc1a75ff1d700feec16f68db3e8de0ff?from=htc_rss|title=Jake Weatherald says Redbacks will be on their 'A-game' against Mitch Starc's Blues in Shield opener|last=Earle|first=Richard|date=23 October 2017|access-date=10 December 2017|newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref> including a 212-run opening stand in the elimination final against [[Victoria cricket team|Victoria]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8626/report/1118590/|title=Weatherald-Carey stand leads South Australia into final|last=Brettig|first=Daniel|date=19 October 2017|access-date=10 December 2017|website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> and scored two centuries himself.<ref name=agame/> He also hit career-best form in the [[2017–18 Sheffield Shield season]] in a match against [[Western Australia cricket team|Western Australia]] at the [[WACA Ground|WACA]]. He scored twin centuries, a century in each innings of the match; in the first innings, he scored 152 off only 160 balls (to date his highest innings score), and then 143 off 281 balls in the second innings to guide the Redbacks to an unlikely five-wicket victory, after Western Australia had scored 514 in the first innings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8043/report/1118872/day/4/|title=Weatherald's twin tons script SA's comeback win|publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]]|date=16 November 2017}}</ref> This was South Australia's highest successful chase at the WACA, and the first time a South Australian had scored twin centuries in a Shield match since [[Darren Lehmann]] eighteen seasons earlier. Weatherald took his first-class [[batting average (cricket)|batting average]] from 33 to 40 in this match alone.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/cricket/opener-jake-weatherald-serves-notice-to-matt-renshaw-and-cam-bancroft-hes-after-australian-slot/news-story/7fc323e93c0fee983219e2ee6ee82529?nk=c12855ad84e52edb48b553d4a7bcdebc-1512907568|title=Opener Jake Weatherald serves notice to Matt Renshaw and Cam Bancroft he's after Australian slot|last=Earle|first=Richard|date=16 November 2017|access-date=10 December 2017|newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref>

In the [[2017–18 Big Bash League season#Final|final]] for the [[2017–18 Big Bash League season]], Weatherald played a knock of 115 of 70 balls, against the [[Hobart Hurricanes]], in which the [[Adelaide Strikers]] won their first [[Big Bash League|Big Bash]] title.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Press |first=Australian Associated |date=2018-02-04 |title=Weatherald century delivers Adelaide's maiden Big Bash League title |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/feb/04/weatherald-century-delivers-adelaides-maiden-big-bash-league-title |access-date=2025-07-18 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> This was the first century in a [[Big Bash League|Big Bash]] final.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-04 |title=Big Bash Final: Jake Weatherald’s incredible century smashes records |url=https://foxsports.com.au/cricket/big-bash-final-jake-weatheralds-incredible-century-smashes-records/news-story/e9f825a76e4128a359effbc0504159d3 |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Fox Sports |language=en}}</ref> He was involved in what was termed by former England Test captain [[Michael Vaughan]] the greatest catch of all time during BBL{{!}}07.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/big-bash-catch-greatest-ever-says-michael-vaughan-20180123-h0n2r9.html|title=Big Bash catch 'greatest ever', says Michael Vaughan|last1=Cherny|first1=Daniel|date=23 January 2018|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=23 January 2018|last2=Pierik|first2=Jon|language=en-US}}</ref>

===2019–20=== Ahead of the [[2019–20 Marsh One-Day Cup]], Weatherald was named as one of the six cricketers to watch during the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27647748/six-players-watch-marsh-one-day-cup |title=Six players to watch in the Marsh One-Day Cup |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=19 September 2019}}</ref>

On 11 November 2019, in the [[2019–20 Sheffield Shield season]], he and [[Henry Hunt (cricketer)|Henry Hunt]] set a new record for the highest opening partnership for South Australia in first-class cricket, with 293 runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/cricket-sheffield-shield-jake-weatherald-south-australia-record-against-tasmania-082257653.html? |title=Records tumble in 'unbelievable' Sheffield Shield masterclass |work=Yahoo Sports |date=11 November 2019 |access-date=11 November 2019}}</ref> However, in October 2020, Weatherald took time away from the game citing mental health issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/jake-weatherald-break-mental-health-cricket-south-australia-redbacks-sheffield-shield-hub/2020-10-28 |title=Weatherald takes time out for mental health reasons |work=Cricket Australia |access-date=28 October 2020}}</ref>

===Australia call-up (2025–present)=== Weatherald received his first senior national call-up in November 2025, when he was named in Australia’s squad for the opening Test of the home [[2025–26 Ashes series|2025–26 Ashes]] series against [[England cricket team|England]] in Perth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ashes/shock-ashes-call-up-uncapped-jake-weatherald-named-in-australias-squad-as-steve-smith-takes-charge/amp_articleshow/125099571.cms|title=Shock Ashes call-up! Uncapped Jake Weatherald named in Australia’s squad as Steve Smith takes charge|publisher=Times of India|accessdate=31 March 2026}}</ref> His selection followed a run of strong early-season [[Sheffield Shield]] performances. He scored a second ball [[Duck (cricket)|duck]] in the first Innings, and 22 off 34 balls in the second Innings.{{Citation needed|date=March 2026}}

He scored his maiden test half-century in the first Innings of the second test match in the series, finishing with 72 runs from just 78 balls.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/the-ashes-2025-26-1455609/australia-vs-england-2nd-test-1455612/match-report-2|title=Weatherald's opening gambit inspires Australia fightback|publisher=ESPNCricinfo|accessdate=31 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/25675807.ex-norfolk-village-cricket-impresses-ashes-australia/|title=Ex-Norfolk village cricket impresses in Ashes for Australia|publisher=Eastern Daily Press|accessdate=31 March 2026}}</ref>

At the end of the season, Weatherald returned to South Australia for the [[2026-27 Sheffield Shield]] season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/jake-weatherald-returns-to-two-time-defending-sheffield-shield-champions-south-australia-1533072|title=Weatherald returns to two-time defending Shield champions South Australia|publisher=[[ESPNCricinfo]]|date=28 April 2026}}</ref> He also signed an overseas player contract with [[Leicestershire County Cricket Club]] in England to play for the club in the opening block of matches in the [[2026 County Championship]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c4gxrwjm2ydo|title=Australia batter Weatherald joins Leicestershire|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=31 March 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wisden.com/series/county-championship-2026/cricket-news/australia-ashes-opener-jake-weatherald-signs-lengthy-county-championship-deal-leicestershire|title=Australia Ashes opener signs lengthy County Championship deal with promoted Division One side|publisher=Wisden|accessdate=31 March 2026}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{cricinfo|id=781285}}

{{South Australia cricket team squad}} {{Hobart Hurricanes current squad}} {{Leicestershire County Cricket Club squad}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weatherald, Jake}} [[Category:1994 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Australian cricketers]] [[Category:South Australia cricketers]] [[Category:Tasmania cricketers]] [[Category:Adelaide Strikers cricketers]] [[Category:Australia Test cricketers]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Darwin, Northern Territory]] [[Category:Cricketers from the Northern Territory]] [[Category:Leicestershire cricketers]] [[Category:Quetta Gladiators cricketers]] [[Category:Australian expatriate cricketers in Pakistan]] [[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]