Jake Weatherald puts heat on Aussie top order with big ton while Jason Sangha cashes in too for Australia A
Jake Weatherald and Jason Sangha have put Australian selectors on notice with timely centuries in the second unofficial Test between Australia A and Sri Lanka A.
On a flat deck in Darwin, Sri Lanka declared at 6-485 in the first innings with Nuwanidu Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake scoring centuries. Zanden Jeh's 3-132 were the best figures.
In response, Ashes hopeful Nathan McSweeney couldn't back up his 94 in the first unofficial Test, bowled by Nishan Peiris for 12.
READ MORE: Fittler puts Origin ban for Kangaroos defectors on agenda
READ MORE: Unwanted star set for loan deal amid $700k Eels headache
READ MORE: Smith lifts lid on V'landys call after Kangaroos snub
Jason Sangha raises the bat after his ton. Cricket Australia
Kurtis Patterson, another Test contender, scored 59 before Weatherald and Sangha came together.
Weatherald, who was the top runscorer in the Sheffield Shield last season, marched towards a score of 183 before he chopped the ball on 10 minutes from stumps.
"He's probably the clubhouse leader for that first Test spot now, I would've thought," former Shield wicket-keeper Adam Crosthwaite said on cricket.com.au's commentary.
Jake Weatherald brings up 150. Cricket Australia
The Tasmanian representative has now become a serious option at the top of the order considering the struggles of Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja.
Sangha finished on 121 not out, batting at four with Australia 3-379.
"It's been remarkable batting from Weatherald and also Sangha as well, the start was nervy, and a bit slow but once that went away he was playing some aggressive shots," former Sri Lankan Test cricketer Kaushal Silva said.
Sangha adds to the plethora of depth Australia has in the middle order. Steve Smith, Travis Head and Beau Webster are expected to be mainstays for the Ashes.
Jake Weatherald and Jason Sangha. Cricket Australia
Josh Inglis sits on the edge of the side while Cameron Green could be an option down the order if Marnus Labuschagne returned to form in the opening rounds of the Shield.
Andrew McDonald implied after the West Indies ended that there's still positions up for grabs at the top.
"It feels as though we're still a little bit unsettled in terms of what our combinations look like at the top of the order with the way that the performances have gone here (against West Indies)," he said.
"There's a lot of cricket still to come to be able to gather that information."
