Alex Carey thinks Strikers opening partner Jake Weatherald will join him in green and gold soon

They are the star opening batsmen for the Strikers, but as Alex Carey heads off on Australian duties, he doesn’t think it will be long before Jake Weatherald joins him.

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BEFORE the end of 2018, Strikers opening batsman Jake Weatherald declared his New Year’s Resolution was to make more runs.

And he’s on the march to achieving that, with consecutive half centuries for his two matches so far this year.

His impressive 50 from 40 balls was a highlight in Sunday’s loss to the Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval. He made 71 (44 balls) before being controversially run out in his Player of the Match performance against the Renegades in Geelong on January 3.

Weatherald’s opening partner — and good mate — Alex Carey said if he kept doing what he was doing it wouldn’t be long before the 24-year-old left-handed batsman would be in Australian colours.

“Jake and I have opened a fair few games of T20 cricket together now and we absolutely love going out there and starting the innings,” Carey said.

Strikers openers Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald run onto the field during the BBL match against the Sydney Thunder at Adelaide Oval on New Year’s Eve. Photo: David Mariuz/AAP

“We haven’t got a huge partnership going so far (this BBL season), we got a good start against the Renegades, and we’re excited every time we go out there that hopefully we’ll post a really good score for the boys.

“And once we’re standing in the middle after a four or a six or at the end of the over, there’s a really good vibe between us. We understand each other really well and we love batting together.

“He’s still quite young, but his time will come (for Aussie selection).

“He’s got real class, it’s just a matter of time.”

Sunday’s game was Carey’s last BBL match before he resumes international duties, after last week being selected in the Australian ODI team alongside Strikers teammates Peter Siddle and Billy Stanlake. They will play their first of three ODI matches against India on January 12.

Jake Weatherald on his way to a half century for the Adelaide Strikers during their BBL loss to Sydney Sixers at Adelaide Oval. Photo: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Carey said Siddle’s selection for his first ODI squad since he last played in 2010 was testament to the dedication he put into his game.

“He’s loved around the group of players in any team he plays for,” he said.

“He does that for Victoria and at Australian level he’s loved around the dressing rooms and he’s done exactly the same coming over to the Adelaide Strikers.

“It’s a credit to himself.

“To be honest, he probably surprised me in this T20 format that he does as well as he does.

“So him getting back into the one-day side shows how well he’s been doing in the white-ball competitions we’re playing.

“I love him … he’s just a fantastic guy to have around.”

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