Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has delivered a blunt assessment of Test opener Jake Weatherald, stating the batsman must make significant technical adjustments if he wants to retain his place in the national side.
Ponting Points to 'Glaring Weaknesses'
The critique comes after Weatherald's challenging debut Test series during the recent Ashes campaign. The 31-year-old played all five matches but managed an average of just 22.33, passing 35 runs on only one occasion. That single highlight was a stylish half-century in the day-night Test at Brisbane's Gabba.
Ponting, analysing the series for Seven Network, pinpointed two specific areas of concern. "I think the discussion I'll be having with Weatherald is if he wants to stay in the side, I think he needs to make some technical changes," Ponting said. "Because what we've seen so far, they are glaring weaknesses, the really full ball and the really short ball."
He elaborated that such flaws are quickly identified and exploited by opposition teams. Ponting also referenced insights from former Test batsman Greg Blewett, who has worked extensively with Weatherald. Blewett noted he had never seen Weatherald's batting stance so low and wide, a technique that hampers his ability to play off the back foot effectively.
The Selection Dilemma for Selectors
Despite his personal struggles, Weatherald's partnership with the in-form Travis Head has provided Australia with its most consistent opening stands since David Warner's retirement. The pair are responsible for four of the seven 50-plus opening partnerships Australia has managed in the past two years, a period that has seen seven different combinations tried at the top of the order.
This presents a complex puzzle for the national selection panel. Former Australian opener Simon Katich highlighted the conflict. "It's going [to be an] interesting discussion point because [there were] pretty consistent starts there through a series where England's openers really battled," Katich said. He questioned whether selectors would value the partnership's output or focus more on Weatherald's individual modes of dismissal, which often involved the short or very full ball.
Weatherald's immediate future could involve a Test series against Bangladesh in August. This would offer a poignant opportunity, as it could see him become the first born-and-bred Northern Territorian to play Test cricket in his home city of Darwin. The city has hosted only two Tests, the last in 2004.
Broader Squad Questions Emerge
The post-Ashes review extends beyond the opening slot. Questions are also being asked about the position of allrounder Cameron Green, especially after Beau Webster's impressive performance on Day 4 at the SCG. In his first innings of the series, Webster scored an unbeaten 71 runs, surpassing Green's highest score for the series. Webster also took career-best Test bowling figures of 3-64 with his part-time off-spin.
Should selectors look past Weatherald, other options for the opening role include Sam Konstas and uncapped batsman Campbell Kellaway. The decision carries extra weight as Australia prepares for a packed schedule of up to 21 Tests in the 12 months starting this August.
For Jake Weatherald, the message from one of Australia's greatest cricketers is clear: adapt his technique or risk losing his hard-earned baggy green.
