Pile of runs in Premier Grade sees Tracy Village recruit named in South Australian Emerging squad

JAKE Weatherald has been rewarded for his blistering Darwin premier cricket form with a recall to the Emerging Redbacks squad.

Tracy Village batsman Jake Weatherald, a star in the Darwin Premier Grade this season, unwinds for Adelaide club side Sturt.

JAKE Weatherald has been rewarded for his blistering Darwin premier cricket form with a recall to the Emerging Redbacks squad.

The left-handed keeper-batsman was initially dropped from next season’s squad after a tough summer of SACA first grade cricket with Sturt.

But he’s turned things around in a big way opening for Tracy Village, amassing a premier-grade high of 730 runs at 121.67 including five centuries.

Emerging Redbacks coach Shane McDermott, formerly head cricket coach at Northern Territory Institute of Sport, said he had been keeping a close eye on Weatherald’s form and was delighted with his performances.

“I actually made a phone call to Jake (on Monday) saying that we’d be very keen to have him back in our Emerging Redbacks program,” McDermott said.

“He missed out on the initial squad because his performances hadn’t warranted selection, he’d only scored about 50 once for the (2014-15 SACA first grade) season which wasn’t good enough for a top-order batsman.

“But seeing him go up to Darwin and score 700-plus runs in a competition which I’ve played and coached in is enough in my book to earn selection.

“That way he trained last year in our program was excellent, he never missed a session and was an easy guy to have around.

“So the minute he started making runs, it was an easy decision for us.”

McDermott felt a Futures League berth for South Australia wasn’t out of the question if the Villagers’ skipper kept his purple patch going heading into the 2015-16 season.

“Scores like that and early performances in the SACA Premier League for NT Strike will put Jake in good stead for our first Futures League game,” he said.

“People are opening their eyes and saying as well as putting him in a high performance program, we’ve got to try and find the opportunity for him to play.”

Palmerston’s Joshua Hoffman is another player making noise in the Top End, starring with bat and ball in his debut DDCA season.

The hard-hitting opener — who has put in a clearance from Port Adelaide to Woodville for next summer — is seventh on the premier grade run-scoring with 345 runs at 38.33.

He’s also taken 14 wickets at 23.93.

“Last year was pretty disappointing for Josh, but this year it looks like he’s really embracing some leadership at Palmerston,” McDermott said.

“There’s been some really good reports from (Palmerston coach) Peter Lake that he’s doing a good job both on and off the field.”

Fellow Emerging Redbacks-listed Spencer Johnson, a talented left-arm quick, has shown plenty in his first few matches for Southern Districts.

Johnson’s summer was hampered by typical fast-bowler’s back injuries, but he’s putting together some solid performances ahead of next season.

“I speak with him weekly,” McDermott said.

“One of the main reasons with Spencer being up there is he’s probably played one season cricket in the past two years due to injury.

“It’s all about him getting out in the middle, bowling and getting that match-fitness.”