Tasmania are reportedly bracing for Jake Weatherald to depart the state after three years, to rejoin Sheffield Shield champions South Australia. The Aussie cricket star, who made his Test debut in the Ashes last summer, has been playing his state cricket with Tasmania for the last three years.
He started his career with SA in 2015, and is reportedly on the move back to the Redbacks for 2026. The Daily Telegraph reported on Sunday that Weatherald is “on the verge” of a return to South Australia, and Tasmania is “bracing for his departure”.
Jake Weatherald’s move to Tasmania led to his Test debut in the Ashes. Image: Getty
Weatherald’s stint with Tassie has revitalised his career, leading to a Test debut against England last November. He played in all five Tests as Australia retained the Ashes with a 4-1 series victory.
It’s believed he still has two years to run on his deal with Tasmania, but a move back to South Australia would allow him to be closer to wife Rachel, who has remained in Adelaide. Weatherald’s signature would be a huge coup for a South Australian team that has won back-to-back Shield titles.
It would mean both of Australia’s Test openers – Weatherald and Travis Head – would rejoin forces on the same state side (when available). It remains to be seen how much state cricket they’ll play in 2026/27 due to a jam-packed Test schedule.
Jake Weatherald started his career with South Australia (R), and wife Rachel (L) has remained in Adelaide while he’s played for Tasmania. Image: Getty
Jake Weatherald rewarded with national contract
Weatherald was handed his first national contract from Cricket Australia earlier this month – a key indication he’ll retain his Test spot for the series against Bangladesh in Mackay and Darwin in August. It would make him the first player in history born in Darwin to play a Test there.
“I think we’ve seen at his best that it can work at that level,” said national selector George Bailey. “Bouncing out of that Ashes series he went straight to work on how he could address some of those (technical issues) and hopefully fine-tune his game. So it’s just about maybe tinkering with a couple of things and just being able to replicate that for longer periods and hopefully across a range of conditions.”
The 31-year-old didn’t set the world on fire in the Ashes, averaging just 22.33. But his 72 in Adelaide showed he belongs at Test level. In 87 first-class games he has 5994 runs at 37.46 with 13 centuries and 31 fifties.