Weatherald flays Queensland after enjoying opening 'circus'

Tasmania opener Jake Weatherald was closing in on his highest first-class score after dominating the Queensland bowlers on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash.

The 31-year-old sent another reminder of the quality top-order batters in the Australian domestic scene, although after making an unbeaten 185 he said he had probably left his run too late to be in the Test equation.

Queensland captain Mitchell Swepson won the toss and sent Tasmania in under heavy cloud cover at Allan Border Field on Friday but Weatherald and fellow left-hander Jake Doran were in complete control when bad light stopped play an hour after tea with Tasmania 358 for 3 off 76 overs.

Weatherald and Doran added 161 off 177 deliveries in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand after Tim Ward had played a fine hand at No. 3.

Weatherald's highest Shield score is the 198 he made while playing for South Australia against Tasmania in 2019. He had made a couple of 40s in the opening Shield rounds this season but had been unable to make the most of the starts.

After the day's play he spoke of the welcome focus opening batters have had domestically this season after David Warner's retirement.

"It has been a bit of a circus going on in Australia trying to find an opener but it has been awesome to watch," Weatherald said. "I'm very happy for Nathan [McSweeney] getting a gig. I think he's deserved that spot.

"I definitely left my run too late but I think there are some good openers around. Sam Whiteman is playing very well and Caleb Jewel has been very good for a long time. Hopefully we can keep putting the pressure on the Australian boys."

Tasmania had been bowled out for 98 in the second innings of their previous Shield clash against Western Australia but none of that fragility was on show.

Queensland had themselves to blame with poor line and length from the bowlers and occasional shoddy fielding not helping their cause. Swepson appeared to run out of ideas as none of the six bowlers used troubled the visitors. They were missing strike bowler Michael Neser with a hamstring injury and his absence was felt.

Weatherald went after the bowling from the get-go as his strike-rate of 91.58 suggests.

"It probably felt in the last game that I was hanging back a bit so in this game there was impetus to come out and meet the ball and I thought that worked well on that wicket," he said. "It was nipping around a bit early but they gave us some opportunities to score which was good. It is a great venue to bat on and you get good reward."