"Jake Weatherald and Justin Galeotti travelled separately on the short journey from the coffee shop to the nets for their scheduled hit. They trained as usual and with Galeotti oblivious to the fact Weatherald had just fielded a life-altering phone call from Australia's chair of selectors, George Bailey, telling him his baggy green dream had almost arrived. The uncapped Weatherald was in the 15-player Ashes squad for the first Test."
"It lasted about two minutes, Weatherald says about the call with Bailey. I didn't want to bring it up [with Galeotti] because I felt like it would distract from the net session. I didn't want to make it all about me. We'd have been talking about it the whole time and not training. Surely the 31-year-old told his housemate straight afterwards? No. He found out through the media so was pretty frustrated, Weatherald says."
"With David Warner's vacated spot still unfilled despite his last Test being 22 months ago, a light breeze should see Weatherald open the batting against England in the Perth Test starting on 21 November. Since the start of the 2024-25 summer, Weatherald has scored 1,391 runs at an average of 53.5, including 183 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in July. Weatherald is, in runs terms, the standout candidate."
Jake Weatherald earned selection in Australia's 15-player Ashes squad for the first Test and is a likely opening candidate for the Perth Test starting 21 November. Weatherald scored 1,391 runs at an average of 53.5 since the start of the 2024-25 summer, including 183 for Australia A against Sri Lanka A. Weatherald received a brief call from chair of selectors George Bailey and kept the news from his nets partner, who later learned via the media. Weatherald grew up in Darwin with natural talent but limited competitive pressure and later moved to Adelaide.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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