Former Test stars Steve Smith, David Warner and Chris Rogers are in Jake Weatherald’s corner

The “nuggets of gold” from former Test stars Steve Smith, David Warner and Chris Rogers helping boom South Australian Jake Weatherald.

If Jake Weatherald leaps from next big thing to international selection this summer it will be through ‘nuggets of gold’ from former Test stars Steve Smith, David Warner and Chris Rogers.

National performance squad coach Rogers has dissected strokeplayer Weatherald’s technique while suspended duo Smith and Warner are giving back to the game in serious fashion.

“It has been great to pick their brains about playing Test cricket,” Weatherald told The Advertiser.

“Steve and David are so good. They came of their own accord and helped us out, at training every day and very good to be around, infectious, wanted to help us develop.

“They have so many nuggets of gold to make your game better. They will go down as two of the greatest of all time.”

South Australian keeper-batsman Alex Carey, opener Matt Renshaw and allrounder Hilton Cartwright have, in recent winters, used the Brisbane-based NPS as the launch for international recognition.

Jake Weatherald of the Redbacks plays a shot during day four against WA.

Weatherald, 23, finished fourth on the 2017-18 Sheffield Shield run tally with 765 at 38 and cracked 337 runs at 32 including two tons in the JLT one-day Cup. Left-hander Weatherald smashed a match-winning BBL final century (115) against Hobart Hurricanes.

Rogers has addressed Weatherald’s perceived weakness against left-armers and the Dukes ball.

“He has some really good insights,” said Weatherald of fellow south-paw Rogers who retired with a Test average of 42 over 25 Tests and 25,470 first class runs.

“We have been working on the alignment, head position and getting the average above 40. It has been coming together quite well.

‘It has opened up a new element for me. He’s changed a few things for me to be more consistent in four-day cricket.”

Australia hosts South Africa from early to mid-November across three one-day clashes through Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne then a one-off T20 at Metricon Stadium. The JLT one-day series starting in mid-September is a straight up audition for the Proteas series.

“It is great the JLT is so close to that South Africa series. Now they can get a picture about who the best one-day players are,” said Weatherald with the Redbacks taking on New South Wales in their September 20 tournament opener at the WACA.

“It’s a chance for me and other players to put their name up in headlights.”

SA hosts the Blues in its Shield season opener from October 16. Batsmen Travis Head, Callum Ferguson, Weatherald, paceman Chadd Sayers and Carey will have five rounds to justify inclusion for the series opener against India at Adelaide Oval from December 6.

“Obviously there’s Kez and Heady has been dominating Shield cricket the past few years and there is Callum Ferguson,” said Weatherald.

“There are plenty of guys in our squad who if they have five solid games will be up for Test selection.”

2018-19 Redbacks fixtures

SHEFFIELD SHIELD

SA v NSW, Oct 16

SA v Qld, Oct 25

Vic v SA, Nov 3

SA v WA, Nov 16

Tas v SA, Nov 27

NSW v SA, Dec 7

SA v Tas, Feb 23

WA v SA, Mar 3

Qld v SA, Mar 11

SA v Vic, Mar 20 (KR Oval)

JLT ONE-DAY CUP

SA v NSW, Sept 20, WACA

WA v SA, Sept 22, WACA

SA v Qld, Sept 25, Hurstville

SA v Tas, Sept 27, Bankstown

Vic v SA, Sept 30, Junction Oval

Finals from Oct 3