Photo Credit: Adelaide Strikers
Adelaide Strikers’ most prolific run-scorer in franchise history will continue to add to the tally for at least another four summers, with Jake Weatherald inking a long-term deal to remain at Adelaide Oval.
One of the most popular players in blue, Weatherald’s list of achievements stretch almost as far as a destructive pull shot dispatched into the Bradman Stand. A majority of his 1668 runs as a Striker have come at just the right time, with the best example a match-winning century against Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL|07 Final at Adelaide Oval.
Weatherald needed just 70 deliveries to accrue 115 runs in the most important game the Strikers have played to date, more than enough to see his side home by 25-runs in front of more than 40,000 jubilant fans. The dominant outing remains the only individual three figure total in the tournament decider.
While that innings is understandably one that sticks in the mind, it is consistency of performance that has seen Weatherald take the field 63 times in the BBL and become one of the best T20 batsman in the country. Last summer, he scored the most runs of any Striker and the sixth most of any player in the tournament.
The year before, the opening batsman was second on the list of Strikers accumulators and eighth competition wide. During the Strikers Championship winning season he made the podium as the third -highest run scorer in the league, just behind teammate Alex Carey in second.
For Weatherald, there is no shortage of reasons to sign a four-year deal in Adelaide.
“I am super pumped to sign a long-term deal with the Strikers. They have shown a lot of faith in me through the years and now to show even more is amazing. But most importantly, playing with the guys at the Strikers, in front of the best supporters in the country, means the world to me. There is no better place to play cricket.
“I am incredibly proud to be a long-term player; my family and I are beyond grateful.”
Approaching his seventh season as Strikers Head Coach, Jason Gillespie has had the pleasure of watching Weatherald clear the boundary with regularity since BBL|05, and he is delighted at the prospect of more.
“He has shown over the years that he is a quality player and performer. At the top of the order, he has continually shown what a fantastic player his is. Not only is he a part of our title winning side, he made a huge century in the biggest game of the season.
“Last year he showed his adaptability, playing a few games batting in the middle order which shows that he has a game that is not just suited to the top of the order, but he could potentially play in the middle order as well, which I’m sure is something the Australian selectors will have taken note of. Our job is to win titles for the Strikers, but we also want to help players achieve all their goals, and I’m sure the national selectors would have watched what he did last season with considerable interest.
“He also had experience in the PSL this year, which is another great learning opportunity for him, and we know he will be an even better player for the Adelaide Strikers as a result. We are so happy to have him.”
No stranger to the in-game microphone, Weatherald played it to perfection during BBL|10, taking an absolute screamer off the bowling of Peter Siddle while chatting casually with the commentary team. A genuine highlight of the tournament, the catch is a perfect reminder of the energy, talent and pure entertainment that the explosive left-hander brings.
Weatherald is the latest in a string of players committing to the Strikers, with more exciting player announcements scheduled for the coming weeks.
