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Jake Weatherald has hogged the spotlight during the ongoing two-match Test series opener between Australia and Bangladesh in Darwin. Jake Weatherald surprised everyone with his unusual way of fielding at short leg while Nathan Lyon was bowling.
The Darwin-born batter kept taking a few quick steps forward as Lyon ran in to bowl and then got into a crouching position close to the batter. The strange move caught the attention of fans and Australian commentators were surprised to see a fielder moving with the bowler like that. Earlier, Mitchell Starc, Mehidy Hasan Miraz involved in heated exchange after pacer's warning.
Why Jake Weatherald was walking with Nathan Lyon at short leg against Bangladesh?
The unusual scene came when Nathan Lyon was bowling to Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto. Jake Weatherald moved forward with Lyon and then quickly got into position instead of standing still at short leg. He was preparing for an inside edge or a possible shot from Shanto.
Former Australia opener David Warner was surprised by the move because he had “never seen that in his life” that a short-leg fielder uses this method. However, the former Australian women’s captain, Alyssa Healy, hailed the local boy for being so flexible and agile, but she even admitted that she had never seen “anyone ever have that technique at short leg."
Jake Weatherald explains his bizarre short-leg move in Darwin Test
However, there was some logic behind Jake Weatherald’s unusual tactic. Actually, Nathan Lyon was trying to encourage Najmul Hossain Shanto to come down the pitch, so Weatherald wanted to stay ready to move with him. This would allow him to react quickly if Shanto stepped out.
After the day's play, Weatherald explained why he was doing it. The Australian batter admitted that he becomes lazy when he stands in one place for too long, so moving around helps him stay active and alert at short leg. He also likes to keep moving because it helps him stay ready for the next ball.
Weatherald told Warner, as quoted by Fox Sports: “To be honest with you, I just get so lazy in there. So, it sort of sparks me up a bit. A bit like my batting, I feel like I need to move a lot. It just helps me get into the right position at the right time. Once I stay a bit still, I just don’t move at all.”
Jake Weatherald reveals bizarre batting habit
Weatherald also revealed another interesting habit. When he is batting, he often talks to himself as the bowler runs in. He uses strong words to get himself fired up and ready for the next delivery. Amid this, CA Chief Todd Greenberg breaks silence on BBL contracting delay.
While doing so, Weatherald actually tries to stay relaxed between balls but then quickly gets himself excited and focused when it is time to face the bowler. The Australian batter believes that this helps him get back into the contest after every delivery.
Weatherald told the legendary wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist, “I try to be relaxed between the balls and then get pretty pumped up, so I just swear at myself a lot. I try to get myself pumped up to get back into the contest. It’s sort of a ying/yang thing.”
At stumps on Day 2, Bangladesh has already taken a 150+ lead against Australia in the first Test in Darwin. They have four wickets in hand, and they must be aiming to get past the 200-run lead mark.
