Cricket

Aussie Test opener on the move again in Shield

Apr 28, 2026

Australia's Test incumbent opener Jake Weatherald has switched states again, leaving Tasmania to return to South Australia.

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Weatherald returns to SA despite having two summers remaining on his Tasmanian contract.

The Tigers have cleared the lefthander, who retains a grip on an Australian opening slot despite a middling average of 22.33 from his five Ashes Tests.

Weatherald returns to Adelaide, where his wife remained during his three seasons with Tasmania.

"I would like to thank Cricket Tasmania for the opportunity to come down and not only play but be a part of a fantastic program," Weatherald said in a statement.

"Jeff (Vaughan, coach), Sall (Salliann Beams, high-performance manager) and the entire program in general welcomed me in and have allowed me to reach a new level of cricket which greatly assisted in realising my Australian Test dreams."

Weatherald, who made his first-class debut for SA in 2016, is another boost for South Australia, the back-to-back Sheffield Shield champions.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Gilkes is also joining SA after 45 first-class games for New South Wales.