Kerry O’Keeffe has declared Jake Weatherald‘s Test career will be “on the line” in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney – and Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green are right there with him. England won the fourth Test in extraordinary scenes on Saturday – their first win on Australian soil in 15 years.
Weatherald fell for just 5 on Saturday, leaving a ball from Ben Stokes that cannoned into his stumps. The opener threw his head back in anguish after the horror leave, which continued a fairly poor series so far. The Tasmanian made 72 in the second Test in Brisbane, but is averaging just 20 across the entire series.
Time is running out for Jake Weatherald to cement his place in the Aussie Test team. Image: AAP/Channel 7
He’s also had scores of 0, 23, 17 not out, 18 and 1 – a total of 140 runs across the four Tests so far. Weatherald is under immense pressure to retain his spot, and with Australia already securing the series victory they could look to make a change for Sydney with an eye to the future.
Weatherald is 31, so the left-armer won’t exactly have a long Test career ahead of him. The opener appears to have a major technical fault in that he falls over his front leg to the off-side, resulting in multiple lbw dismissals this series.
More pressure on Labuschagne and Green as well
After the Ashes, the Aussies don’t play a Test series until next August against Bangladesh. The series against the cricket minnows appears to be the perfect chance to blood some youngsters, with Sam Konstas, Campbell Kellaway, Matt Renshaw and Nathan McSweeney waiting in the wings.
Speaking on Fox Cricket, O’Keeffe said: “Weatherald’s career will be on the line in Sydney”. Michael Vaughan responded: “Do you think he’ll actually play?” O’Keeffe said the opener “deserves” to see out the series, but needs runs at the SCG to retain his place. At age 31, he’ll struggle to get back in if he’s dropped.
Jake Weatherald threw his head back after the ball cannoned into his stumps. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
As for Labuschagne, he made just 8 on Saturday after falling for 6 on Friday. It took his Test average in 2025 to 20.84 – the third worst of an Australian top-four batter in a calendar year ever (with a minimum of 15 innings). He still hasn’t made a Test century in over two years, and just like Weatherald time appears to be running out for him.
Green made 19 on a pitch playing plenty of tricks on Saturday. The all-rounder only managed 17 in the first innings, and plenty are calling for him to be replaced moving forward. The 26-year-old is viewed as an immense talent, but his Test average now sits just above 30.
“Cameron Green’s in no position to play that ball. It’s just premeditated batting,” Simon Katich said on Channel 7. “The game’s hard enough batting from the crease let alone when you’ve got guys charging down the wicket.
“I know what they’re trying to do, they’re trying to put the bowler off that good length. But you’re making that decision before you even know what length the ball’s being bowled. It’s predetermined rubbish. Watch the ball and play it instinctively off the track.”
England win after massive injury blow at MCG
Earlier, England quick Gus Atkinson joined Jofra Archer on the sidelines after injuring his hamstring on day two at the MCG. Atkinson was recalled for the fourth Test when Archer was struck down by a side strain, but he limped off the field on Saturday after grabbing at his leg.
The England camp later released a statement saying: “England seamer Gus Atkinson left the field after bowling his fifth over of the innings, having felt some soreness in his left hamstring. He will be assessed over the next few hours.”
England bowled Australia out for just 132 on Saturday, before chasing down the target of 175 with four wickets in hand to secure a famous victory. Before Saturday they hadn’t won a single Test in Australia since January of 2011.
Gus Atkinson injured his hamstring on day two at the MCG. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)