A raw and transparent Jake Weatherald has opened up on his decade-long journey to Australia’s Test circle just days after his announcement in the country’s 15-man Ashes squad.

The 31-year-old opener from the Northern Territory opened up on his struggles during the latter years of his domestic career in South Australia, and revealed what was going through his mind when he was told of his Ashes selection.

Scroll down for more in Ashes Daily!

Watch The Ashes 2025/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

‘OBSESSED WITH EVERYONE ELSE’: WEATHERALD OPENS UP ON RAW ROAD TO TEST ‘PIPEDREAM’

Australian Test hopeful Jake Weatherald has opened up on his rollercoaster ride to his international call-up for this month’s first Ashes Test, almost a decade on from his first-class debut.

In an in-depth interview with The Age’s Daniel Brettig, the 31-year-old revealed some of the hurdles he has faced in his bid to become the country’s next Test opener, as well as the moment he was told of his recent selection.

“In sport there’s so much failure and so many opinions about what goes on and so many things you can’t control. I was completely consumed by that, and when you go through certain things – I have OCD, and I was obsessed with getting better,” Weatherald said.

“But I was obsessed with everyone else as well, what everyone else thought. And when you’re already negatively geared, it just didn’t make a great concoction for trying to be a professional athlete and trying to enjoy yourself.

“I wasn’t the best human going around (in 2020), I didn’t feel that happy about myself.”

Weatherald reacts to Ashes selection | 03:45

The positive left-hander noted that even the most simple pleasures like sharing a glass of wine or two at home were simply not the same during his struggles, a concern noticed by his now-wife Rachel.

Weatherald withdrew himself from the first-class scene amid Covid in the summer of 2020/21, before taking a second leave of absence in 2022 which eventually saw him relocate from South Australia to Tasmania.

Three years on, and the Northern Territory-born product is within touching distance of the coveted Baggy Green, as confirmed to him via Chairman of Selectors George Bailey over the phone on Wednesday morning

“I tried to play it as cool as possible but I was absolutely screaming in my head,” Weatherald revealed.

“But he said ‘we like the way you go about it, your record suggests you’re going really well, everything’s moving well, we feel as though you can put pressure on the bowlers and we like that, we don’t want you to do anything different, just be ready to go’. He was clear they trust I have the game to hopefully perform.

“You sh** yourself a little bit. I’ve aspired so long to even be considered for Australia, and it’s one of those things where you never think it’s going to happen; it’s a pipedream. So, then to be announced you’re part of the squad and have players like Steve Smith, Travis and ‘Kez’ [Carey], joining up with them will be an amazing moment.”

Weatherald has scored 248 runs from three Sheffield Shield matches this spring, with three half-centuries at an average of 41.33.