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Paine's warning over Weatherald as Ashes debut looms
SEN • November 20th, 2025 12:20 pm
Expect the unexpected.
That is former Australia Test captain Tim Paine’s message to England if they come up against Jake Weatherald on debut at Optus Stadium in the opening Ashes Test.
After months of debate over who will partner Usman Khawaja as opener for Australia, all indications point to 31-year-old Weatherald getting the nod.
Weatherald was included in the 15-man squad off the back of his stellar form in the Sheffield Shield and in Paine’s opinion, the Tasmanian star is more than ready to rise to the occasion.
“Jake Weatherald, when you played against him, everyone's always thought, ‘Jesus, this guy's a good player’, and he just hasn't been able to capitalise on it until the last sort of 18 months," Paine told SENQ Breakfast.
“He’s grown into his own. He understands his game really well.
“He prepares really well and he's as ready as the likes of Brad Haddin and Mike Hussey - guys that came into first Tests at 30, 31.
“We're hoping that Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett are in a similar vein, but yeah, they're certainly ready to go.
“They're highly skilled. 'Weathers', I’ve had a bit of time with at the Adelaide Strikers. I can't wait to see him bat.
“He can be a little bit unpredictable, but in a really good way.
“If the pressure is on he won't go back into his shell, he'll come at them, so it's going to be exciting for people to watch him bat if he's the one they go with.”
Fans will not have long to wait before it becomes clear which players will make their debut against the old enemy with the first ball expected at 1:20pm AEDT Friday.
"Ussie has been spending a lot of time with him (Weatherald)," Bharat Sundaresan said on SEN's The New Ball on Thursday.
"He looks primed and I'm so excited for Jake."
Late Thursday England named a 12-man squad with bowler Mark Wood confirmed despite an injury scare earlier in the week.
The side, led once again by Ben Stokes, will look to capitalise on the dry conditions in Perth, by fielding the fastest English bowling cartel seen in Australia.
“If (Wood) does play, and England go for this 5-man pace attack, it could be the fastest England attack we have ever seen in an Ashes series in Australia,” BBC Chief Cricket Reporter Stephan Shemilt told SEN 1170 Afternoons.
“You go back to 1970/71, the side that was captained by Ray Illingworth, England hit Australia with pace then… this might be faster than all of those.
“England will never have played an attack of five bowlers all capable of hitting 90 miles an hour.”
