Australian Test opener Jake Weatherald has shown his good humour in the face of a challenging start to his international career, poking fun at his own performance after the second Test against England wrapped up early at the MCG.
A Tough Initiation on Challenging Wickets
The Boxing Day Test concluded inside two days on a bowler-friendly Melbourne pitch, with Weatherald managing scores of just 10 and 5. This continued a difficult introduction to the longest format for the 31-year-old, who made his debut in the first Test of the series.
Across eight innings this series, Weatherald has registered three single-figure scores and only one half-century, averaging 20.85. His fellow opener, Travis Head, described the batting conditions throughout the series as "challenging," a sentiment echoed by many in the Australian camp.
Finding Humour in the Struggle
Despite the on-field difficulties, Weatherald remained a popular figure with fans. The day after the Test, all Australian players attended a fan event at Yarra Park, where Weatherald spent considerable time signing autographs and taking photos.
He later took to Instagram to share a light-hearted reflection on his match, writing: "signed more autographs than runs this match." He followed the self-deprecating joke with a more determined note: "Not every day goes to script - still working hard. SCG next."
The post was met with an outpouring of support from fans in the comments, with messages praising his attitude and predicting a big score in the next match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Backing from His Partner and Looking Ahead
Weatherald is expected to retain his spot for the third and final Test in Sydney, and he has received strong public backing from his opening partner, Travis Head. Speaking on Sunday, Head acknowledged the tough start but expressed faith in Weatherald's ability.
"He showed a lot of glimpses over his first four Tests, and it’s not always going to go your way," Head said of his fellow South Australian. "There’s a lot of guys that have looked like they’ve been under the pump with the bat who are some of our best in our generation, so it can be a tough way to start your international career. But I think he’s a good enough player to play international cricket."
Head also pointed out a silver lining in Weatherald's dismissals, noting he hasn't developed a predictable trend for England's bowlers to exploit. "Definitely you can say it’s a positive that that is the case, that he hasn’t got a trend," Head said, highlighting Weatherald's crucial innings in Brisbane as a series-winning contribution.
While Weatherald and number three batter Marnus Labuschagne are likely to hold their places for Sydney, all-rounder Cameron Green's spot is under serious threat after averaging just 18.66 with the bat this series.
