Leg Buys: Tasmania’s stubborn Jake Weatherald stances sees South Australia recall Shield exile

A former South Australian opener is returning to the Redbacks, as Trent Copeland makes an immediate impact in the Thunder’s recruiting spree, and Victoria weigh up their batting options. All that and more in Leg Buys.

Tasmania’s refusal to release Jake Weatherald has paved the way for 30-year-old Conor McInerney to return to South Australia’s list after three years in the wilderness.

The opener was delisted at the end of the 2020-21 season but has been rewarded for a solid season with Glenelg in SA Premier Cricket.

Having not played a first-class match since November, 2020, McInerney was recalled for SA’s final Sheffield Shield match of the just-completed season, in which he made 21 and 16 against the Tigers.

SA and Victoria had both been interested in a move for Weatherald, who shifted from SA to Tassie last year but was starved of opportunities.

But despite the opener’s interest in a shift, Tassie would not provide the green light for Weatherald to move with a year left on his contract.

McInerney has been the beneficiary, while Big Bash League gun Josh Brown has been courted by Victoria to fill the spot the Vics would likely have used on Weatherald.

Nic Maddinson left Victoria for NSW. Picture: Getty Images

Victoria’s situation is further complicated by the uncertainty surrounding Will Pucovski. The Vics have already lost Nic Maddinson to NSW as well as Travis Dean, meaning they are light on top order options.

McInerney joins fellow batters Jason Sangha and Mackenzie Harvey as additions to the SA list. That pair joined from NSW and Victoria respectively.

SA remains on the hunt for both a new general manager of cricket and coach following the recent exits of Tim Nielsen and Jason Gillespie.

Former Test quick Ryan Harris is serving as interim head coach.

The men’s state contracting deadline is on Friday, however Cricket Victoria has been given extra time to make a call on Pucovski pending a decision from a medical panel about his fitness to keep playing cricket following the one-Test opener’s latest concussion.

Carey in demand

Gillespie also departed from his role as coach of the Adelaide Strikers. However the BBL club is poised to keep Test wicketkeeper Alex Carey despite rival interest.

Carey was one of the Strikers’ most prominent out-of-contract players when the BBL went into its post-season embargo period.

But sources indicated the gloveman is now set to stay. He is likely to be available for a greater chunk of next season given the earlier conclusion to Australia’s home men’s Test summer. The involvement of Aussie Test stars was limited last season because of backended fixture, owing to the one-day World Cup.

The Melbourne Renegades remain an outlier as attention turns towards the overseas player draft and pre-draft signing window given they do not have a recognised domestic gloveman on their list, having traded Sam Harper to the Melbourne Stars last year.

Quinton de Kock scored 104 runs in his six innings last season. Picture: Getty Images

The Renegades instead relied on imports Quinton de Kock and Joe Clarke, while they also signed Dutch captain Scott Edwards as a replacement player.

Having acquired Brown, the Renegades are expected to retain Harvey for next season.

BBL clubs are hopeful that the rival ILT20 competition will shift forward from a January to November start next season, which would in theory allow greater involvement from top overseas players.

Sams staying put

New Sydney Thunder general manager Trent Copeland landed paceman Wes Agar from the Strikers in a pick swap during the week.

Former Renegades captain Nic Maddinson is also set to join the club, while experienced bowling all-rounder Daniel Sams had been linked to a move from the Thunder but is now likely to remain.

Copeland came into the role in February after the swift exit of Andrew Gilchrist as part of broader change at Cricket NSW.

Originally published as Leg Buys: Tasmania’s stubborn Jake Weatherald stances sees South Australia recall Shield exile