Jake Weatherald skips BBL knockouts to prioritise red-ball cricket after Ashes debut

Jake Weatherald looks to claim the opening spot in Australia Test XI [Source: AussiesArmy]

The latest recipient of the highly coveted baggy green, Jake Weatherald, who is also signed with the Hobart Hurricanes for the Big Bash League has confirmed his unavailability for the forthcoming big match in season 2025/26, as Hurricanes face Melbourne Stars in the knockout fixture at the Ninja Stadium in Hobart on January 21.

Having missed out on the top-2 spots on the final league stage game against the Brisbane Heat by just 3 runs, the defending champions will have to take a longer and tougher route if they want to go back-to-back with the BBL titles, whilst missing out on Weatherald, who has decided to continue focusing on red-ball cricket and second phase of the Sheffield Shield 2025/26.

Weatherald chooses red-ball cricket over BBL glory

The former BBL winner in 2016/17 with the Adelaide Strikers, who played all five Ashes Tests over the gruelling summer, is yet to make any appearance for the Hurricanes on their way to the final four of the competition. While his Ashes teammates joined the respective BBL squads, the southpaw decided to lay back and recuperate for the upcoming shield matches.

As confirmed by the Hurricanes coach, Jeff Vaughan, the batter is aiming to solidify his spot at the top of the Test XI, after waiting for the debut for a long time.

"Jake doesn't feel ready to play this format of the game and wants to focus on red-ball cricket at the back-end of the summer. It's something we want to support Jake on. He's had a huge Ashes year. To play a full summer of Test cricket is pretty arduous. He wants to be best prepared for Shield cricket and ensure he is the No.1 opening batsman in Australia," Vaughan told the press.

Hurricanes' BBL hangs in balance

Similar to the Hurricanes, who missed the top-2 in a failed chase in their final match, the Stars also stood a chance to qualify for the Qualifer match to take an easier route to potentially reach the final. However, in their final match, they only managed to put on a score of 130 runs against Perth Scorchers, despite a resolute 55(39) for captain Marcus Stoinis, and the score was chased with 19 balls left.

Having finished just at 3 and 4, respectively, with only a solitary point difference between the teams, they are up for a big task in Hobart to make it to the second Qualifier and face the loser of Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers. It is expected to be a thriller, which could go down to the wire on Tuesday.

Crucial Sheffield Shield season for Weatherald ahead

The new Aussie opener, who played all five Tests in the Ashes looked good in phases to potentially cement his spot in the team. However, despite some starts, he only managed to score 201 runs in 10 innings with a solitary fifty to his name in the first innings of the Gabba Test.

After Usman Khawaja's retirement, he might get a longer rope to showcase his class; however, the remainder of the Shield season, which resumes from February 5 will be his most important assignment in red-ball cricket to keep his spot in the team, with some young talent breathing down his neck. So far in the season, he has 301 runs in 8 innings, at an average of 37.62 and three fifties to his name.