Tasmania are reportedly preparing to lose star opener Jake Weatherald, with the Test batsman expected to return to South Australia after three seasons away. Weatherald, who made his Test debut during last summer’s Ashes, has enjoyed a career‑reviving stint with Tasmania but a move back to Adelaide now appears increasingly likely.
Weatherald began his domestic career with the Redbacks in 2015 and is believed to still have two years remaining on his Tasmanian contract. However, returning to South Australia would allow him to be closer to his wife Rachel, who has remained in Adelaide. His signature would be a major boost for a Redbacks side that has claimed back‑to‑back Sheffield Shield titles.
The move would also reunite Australia’s current Test opening pair Weatherald and Travis Head at state level, though their availability next season remains uncertain due to a packed international schedule.
Weatherald’s rise over the past year has been remarkable. His strong form for Tasmania earned him a national contract earlier this month, signalling selectors’ confidence that he will retain his Test spot for the upcoming series against Bangladesh in Mackay and Darwin. If selected, he would become the first Darwin‑born cricketer to play a Test in the Northern Territory.
National selector George Bailey praised Weatherald’s development, saying the opener has worked hard to refine his technique since the Ashes. “It’s just about tinkering with a couple of things and being able to replicate that for longer periods across a range of conditions,” Bailey said.
As negotiations continue behind the scenes, Tasmania now face the prospect of losing one of their most influential players while South Australia stand to regain a homegrown star at the peak of his career.
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