Adelaide Strikers opener Jake Weatherald looks to the new year as a chance to make more runs

Ahead of the must-win clash against Sydney Thunder at Adelaide Oval, Strikers opener Jake Weatherald makes a very definitive New Year’s resolution.

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Big-hitting Striker Jake Weatherald is making only two New Year’s resolutions this year.

Firstly, to fix up his “shabby” house. Secondly, to score more runs.

And he’ll be looking to get the latter ticked off early with a decent score against the Sydney Thunder at Adelaide Oval on New Year’s Eve.

The close-to-sold-out clash has become a must-win for the reigning BBL champions, who have lost their past two consecutive games.

Returning from a disappointing loss in Perth against the Scorchers where the side was bowled out for 88, Weatherald made only 22, but it was the team’s top score.

His previous two innings have netted 17 and 32, and considering last season he made three 50s and then smashed 115 in the final — the biggest score ever by a Striker — he admits he wants to make more runs.

“I’ve been contributing but not match winning,” he said before a session in the nets at Strikers training on Saturday.

“I would have liked to have a few big scores on the back of last year, but it’s just the way it’s going so far this season.”

With the season still so young, Weatherald is confident he can kick on from the 20s and 30s he’s been scoring into the 60s and 70s, where he’d rather be.

“If I can stay within my bubble and do the things I need to do perfectly, then we should be all right,” he said.

Jake Weatherald during the Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades game at Adelaide Oval. Photo: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

Weatherald said the Strikers were missing the presence of captain Travis Head in the batting order, but were hoping to get him back for a few of the games later this season.

“He’s a world-class player … we’re definitely missing him, but it’s a bigger honour playing for your country,” he said.

“We’d much rather be watching him playing against the Indians than our games because it means he’s going very well.”

Weatherald, 24, said the coaching staff, namely head coach Jason Gillespie — as well as batting and bowling assistants Michael Di Venuto and Joe Dawes — were positive about the team’s progress despite the current 1-2 record.

“In T20 cricket, it doesn’t take much to turn around pretty quickly and we’re only three games in,” he said.

Weatherald — who debuted for the electric blues in 2016 — hasn’t lost a New Year’s game yet, and he’s keen for that tradition to continue.

“I want to make a lot more runs,” he said of his New Year’s resolution. And he started going about achieving that on Saturday in the Adelaide Oval nets, where he concentrated on his own game plan.

“I’m going through what I’m going to do in the game and how I’m going to go about it and make sure I’m going to feel comfortable with how I’m going to bat out in the middle,” he said.

Jake Weatherald bats during the BBL match against the Perth Scorchers. He topscored for the Strikers with 22. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“There are some things you can control and training and the preparation is something you can control, so if you can do that well, the rest should take care of itself.”

Weatherald said on paper, the Strikers matched up well against the Thunder.

“They’ve got a very good team and some good internationals in Jos Buttler and Joe Root, they are two very good players, and Fawad Ahmed has been bowling well,” he said.

“In terms of our bowling and batting we have guys who are explosive … Rashid Khan is the best (T20) bowler in the world and if he can bowl well and take a few wickets and hopefully we get Fergy (Callum Ferguson) and Buttler and Root out, then their batting order sinks away pretty quickly.

“I think we match up pretty well.”

Strikers v Thunder, Monday, December 31, 6.45pm, Adelaide Oval.