Ashes 2025-26: Australian legend Adam Gilchrist backs Jake Weatherald at top of the order
Jake Weatherald could become an Australian Test cricketer on Friday – and he’s got the backing of one of the greatest to ever to do it.
The dashing left-hander has the support of another.
Australian legend Adam Gilchrist is in favour of Jake Weatherald at the top of the Aussie order in Friday’s Ashes opener.
Weatherald, 31, is closing in on a Test debut, looming as the man to partner Usman Khawaja against England speedsters Mark Wood and Jofra Archer.
National selection boss George Bailey often stresses a top six in quality rather than order, but Gilchrist prefers specialist openers.
The way Gilchrist sees it: Weatherald can counterpunch the new ball and preserve Marnus Labuschagne’s spectacular form in his preferred No.3 position.
“That would be my preference and as much as anything it’s an opener in an opener’s position and it means Marnus is at No.3,” Gilchrist said.
“(Marnus) has been just so impressive, he’s done absolutely everything you could possibly ask of a player being dropped.
“You know, go away and just knock the door back down; his position is three, so I would rather see him at three and Jake at the top.”
Labuschagne started the Australian domestic summer alongside a peloton of batters vying to open in the first Test at Perth Stadium.
But five centuries in seven matches for Queensland at No. 3 all but cemented Labuschagne’s return to his favoured position.
The decision likely means an unlucky axing for all-rounder Beau Webster, who would lose his place at No.6 to Cameron Green.
“It’s a tough call on Webster if he misses out, but that’s top-level cricket,” Gilchrist said.
“I played in an era where we could’ve had a number of guys picked in the first XI and they just had to wait
“They got their chance and stepped up beautifully like (Webster) has, but that’s the nature of the game.”
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