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Potential Aussie debutant invites Barmy Army sledging
SEN • November 10th, 2025 11:07 am
Potential Ashes debutant Jake Weatherald won’t be taking any backwards steps if he’s named to play for Australia in Perth.
The Tasmania opener was officially named in the 15-man squad for the first Test last week, but his role is yet to be confirmed with one final round of Sheffield Shield to take place before the big game to help decide the make-up of the Aussie XI.
While Weatherald still isn’t sure if he’ll receive a baggy green or not, one thing that won’t affect the 31-year-old is a fiery reception from the travelling England fans, with the left-hander more than willing to cop whatever the Barmy Army has coming for him.
"I don't really know, to be fair. I can be pretty reserved at times, but I can be pretty fiery as well,” Weatherald told ABC.
"It'd be funny. I'm sure if someone starts saying stuff to me, I probably can't hold myself back, but at the same time, I'm not going to go out looking for it.
"I'll just take it on for what it is, and every moment is going to be a cool experience.
"Being sledged by the Barmy Army would be one of the greatest moments of my life."
Weatherald’s rise to the Aussie Test squad has come rapidly, with the former South Australia batter not even playing First Class cricket 18 months ago.
With the announcement coming just one day after his 31st birthday, the opener says the news was the best present he’s received in some time.
"It was awesome. It was the best present I've had in a long time," said Weatherald.
"It's probably not as glamorous as what you'd probably make it out to be when you're a kid, but at the same time, like, it's no less momentous at the time.
"I didn't call my dad because he's notorious for telling everyone, and at the time, the squad hadn't been announced. I knew if I called him, half of Australia would know before the team was announced, so I left that.
"My mum was in Japan with my stepdad, so that was pretty safe, and my wife is pretty good at keeping secrets. It was good.”
Weatherald gets his last chance to impress selectors before the first Test when Tasmania host South Australia at Bellerive Oval from Monday morning in a Sheffield Shield clash.
