Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald suffered through the woodwork in that first match against Victoria – the first game of the Sheffield Shield. That was a brutal day for him. Weatherald had already made a case for a top-order batting position by making three half-centuries across the first two rounds. When India batted the next morning, he was already dismissed for a duck late on day one. He left the game early right when Tasmania was starting to navigate their deep waters. There were just two overs remaining before stumps.
Weatherald, along with his opening teammate Caleb Jewell, dug in deep to see off the final overs. That was all blown away after Mitch Perry’s delivery. Weatherald then feathered an edge to wicketkeeper Sam Harper after being squared up, leaving Tasmania at a perilous 1-4. At the other end, Gabe Bell got through the last three deliveries without loss of wicket before stumps were called.
Jake Lehmann’s Resistance
In spite of Weatherald’s dismissal, Jake Lehmann stood out for Tasmania with a solid performance against the West Australian attack. He scored 96 runs, putting up a fight in an otherwise dismal batting performance for his team. He admitted to some rust in his game. Most famously, he missed a catch at first slip that would have changed the course of the entire match.
Lehmann’s performance emphasizes the ongoing competition for places among Tasmania’s batting lineup. With Usman Khawaja firmly established as an opening batter, the second opening slot remains up for grabs as selectors look to finalize the team ahead of the first Ashes Test against England on November 21 in Perth.
Beau Webster’s Return to Form
Beau Webster produced an impressive return to cricket following a spell out with a rolled ankle. In his first Shield match of the summer, he announced his return to form with the ball, taking 1/26 off 12 overs. Webster expressed his satisfaction with his physical condition, stating, “I’m stoked to be back out there — the body feels really good, the ankle feels really good.”
Webster certainly made a triumphant return to the game. He knew continuing to play as a specialist middle-order batsman would risk ruling out a Test career altogether. “If they see me as a pure middle-order batsman, then I’m probably going to get squeezed out,” he explained. He remains hopeful about his inclusion in the Test squad, emphasizing his desire to compete: “I certainly want to be there [in Perth].”
That continuing battle for batting places is vital as the selectors gear up for a difficult Ashes series to come. George Bailey confirmed that Webster would be included in the squad for the first Test, highlighting his versatility and potential impact.
Weather Disrupts Other Matches
In other news, torrential rains have flooded Brisbane and forced the washout of the first day of play. The Sheffield Shield clash between Queensland and New South Wales at Cairns is currently suspended. This disruption throws a whole new load of uncertainty into the mix as teams battle for vital points before the Ashes.
The new world order of cricket takes shape with each passing game. Players such as Weatherald and Webster are keen to stake their claim before the all-important Ashes series against England. The next few days will be key as clubs start to get an idea of what their final rosters will look like.
