Redback Jake Weatherald targets career-best Sheffield Shield season and looks to Test star Marnus Labuschagne as inspiration
They have strikingly similar Sheffield Shield records, and South Australia’s Jake Weatherald wants to emulate Test star Marnus Labuschagne in taking the next step from state to national level.
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Stung by Adelaide’s BBL finals exit, Jake Weatherald is targeting a first-class finish to the summer with Test revelation Marnus Labuschagne providing inspiration.
Weatherald, 25, finished among the top 10 BBL run scorers this season with 407 at a strike rate of 133.8 opening with Englishman Phil Salt.
Left-hander Weatherald is ranked fourth for first-class runs this season with 459 at 41 behind Western Australia’s Shaun Marsh (600), South Australian teammate Tom Cooper (568) and Tasmania’s Alex Doolan (478).
Weatherald posted 765 runs in 2017-18 but dipped to 488 at 25 last season before tightening his flamboyant stroke play.
“That is the challenge of being a modern day cricketer. You have to be able to adapt to all three formats,” said Weatherald of switching to the red ball Sheffield Shield format starting Friday week against Western Australia in Adelaide.
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“Our batting coach Greg Blewett mentioned if you want to be a star cricketer these days you have to be able to play all three formats really well and do it consistently.
“That is the challenge for me.”
Labuschagne has plundered 1459 Test runs at 63.43.
Klerksdorp-born Labuschagne’s Shield record of 2726 runs at 33.24 in 46 matches is marginally eclipsed by Weatherald’s 2616 runs at 33.9 in 41 matches.
Labuschagne’s 2018-19 Shield form dip, with 416 runs at 24.4, mirrored Weatherald’s run.
A technical correction to Labuschagne’s bat path and stance alignment by Glamorgan coach Matt Maynard proved the catalyst for the Queenslander’s stunning Test run in the 2019 Ashes and beyond.
“I am pretty confident about the way it is going, you are always looking to get better. You just have to look at Marnus Labuschagne,” said Weatherald, who cracked 198 during a record South Australian 293-run opening stand with Henry Hunt (132) against Tasmania last November in Adelaide.
“He was among us last year and now is one of the best players in the world.
“I know how hard he trains, so if you put in the effort that is what you can aspire and get to.”
Weatherald conceded the Strikers’ Knockout final meltdown against Sydney Thunder was “pretty hard to process”.
Skipper Callum Ferguson, noted Weatherald, led the Thunder superbly to a Challenger final berth against Melbourne Stars at the MCG.
“I was pretty happy for him, (he’s) such a great person, cricketer and someone who deserves everything that comes his way,” said Weatherald, who will lead a SACA contingent including Ferguson to Kangaroo Island next week to raise the spirits of bushfire victims.
“We left one of our worst performances to the Knockout final.
“It is a learning curve for us. You have to move on.”
Redbacks head coach Jamie Siddons took charge of training on Thursday at Adelaide Oval in an encouraging return from a personal break.
He will resume command from assistant coach Blewett against the Warriors next week.
“It is really good to see him and how he is going, and his energy around the group has been really good,” said Weatherald of Siddons.
BUSHFIRE APPEAL PUSH
Meanwhile, the Redbacks left-hander is leading cricket’s charge to lift the spirits on bushfire ravaged Kangaroo Island.
Eight players including Weatherald, Ferguson and leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington will on Monday spearhead activities at Kingscote Cricket Club including Woolworths Blast clinics and a BBQ followed by interviews.
SA Cricket Association is replacing equipment lost by families and clubs.
“I have never been to KI. It will be great to relate on a personal level and shed a bit on their lives where it has been pretty hard. We will see the full gravity of what has happened,” Weatherald said.
“It is good to give back to the community.”
Legends including Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar will front in Sunday’s Bushfire relief match in Melbourne.
“The cricket world is coming together for a good cause,” said Weatherald