A former Norfolk village cricketer has been making headlines in the Ashes and causing headaches for England.
Jake Weatherald was Australia’s top scorer on the second day of the match, with a lightning 72 off 78 balls, giving his team a firm grip on the game.
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Last year, the batter – who hit the fourth fastest 50 by an Australian opener against England – was playing village cricket in Norfolk for Great Witchingham.
Weatherald wowed the crowds with 72 runs (Image: Robbie Stephenson)
The 31-year-old Tasmanian, who made his Test debut last month in the first Ashes match, had a productive time in Norfolk, ending last season on 604 runs from 19 games, with five 50s and a century.
The club practices at Walcis Park in Great Witchingham (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
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The club has been following his success, posting congratulations to him on social media after his call-up. “We’re all behind you Weathers,” it said.
The Norfolk team play in the East Anglian Premier League, the highest level of amateur cricket in England.
Great Witchingham CC plays in the East Anglian Premier League (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
READ MORE Australia recall Marnus Labuschagne and include Jake Weatherald for Ashes opener | Eastern Daily Press
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Weatherald was not the only notable player for the club last year. Former England spinner Monty Panesar – an Ashes winner in 2009 and 2010-11 – also turned out for Great Witchingham.
England cricket player Monty Panesar also played for Great Witchingham Cricket Club (Image: Anthony Devlin/PA)
The Australian’s route to Test cricket has been an unusual one. He arrived in Great Witchingham two years after a productive season with Barnsley Woolley Miners CC, in Yorkshire.
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31-year-old Weatherald is originally from Tasmania (Image: Robbie Stephenson)
James Hale, the Great Witchingham captain, told BBC Sport Weatherald had impressed in Norfolk.
“He fitted in really well. At that point in time it was a good moment in his life as he’d just got married in Italy. Almost straight from the wedding he flew over to join us in England,” he said.
“He wanted to enjoy his cricket with a bit of the pressure off and he was great, always a life-and-soul-of-the-changing-room kind of guy, a lot of the laughs and the banter would revolve around Jake and what he was up to – he’s one of those big energy characters.”
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