A stint toiling away outside of the Sheffield Shield has made Jake Weatherald "battle-hardened" for a dream Australia debut to begin the Ashes.
The Northern Territory product, who emerged in domestic cricket for South Australia in 2016, will become Usman Khawaja's sixth opening partner since David Warner retired from Test cricket in January 2024.
With Weatherald joining paceman Brendan Doggett in the XI, Australia will be blooding two debutants in the same Test for the first time since January 2019.
The 31-year-old's debut will take place less than two years after he couldn't get a game Tasmania.
Weatherald almost left Hobart for Victoria after just one season, limited to just one Shield match in 2023-24 despite finding form.
"It probably made me a lot more battle hardened," Weatherald recalled this week about his time in Tasmania's second XI and grade cricket.
"I'm probably a lot more aware of my game and understand how I can be successful in all conditions.
"That experience gave me an opportunity to sit back without the scrutiny of performance in first-class cricket, to go away and get better.
"But then walk in and openly say I think I'm ready, and then actually perform and put my best foot forward and stay in the team.
"For me, I think that was the best thing for me."
Avoiding the temptation to move again after he already left South Australia, Weatherald became the leading Shield run-scorer in 2024-25.
With Sam Konstas suffering a horror tour of the Caribbean in July, Australia again had a vacant spot at the top of the order ahead of the blockbuster Ashes series.
This week has been Weatherald's first time in an Australia squad, immediately showing his dedication to play at the highest level.
Weatherald has given known nets junkies Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne some serious competition.
He has often been the last player to leave training.
On Tuesday, former Australia star Mike Hussey stayed with Weatherald until the end to throw him balls.
Weatherald will be as prepared as he possibly can, having faced a hot spell from Pat Cummins on Monday as the Australia captain attempts to prove his fitness for the second Test in Brisbane.
He becomes the first genuine NT product to play Test cricket.
Former Australia star Damien Martyn was born in Darwin, but moved to Western Australia at an early age.
