Jake Weatherald reveals how he used OCD condition to earn Australia call-up for the Ashes

Top-order batter Jake Weatherald has revealed how his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) has pushed him to constantly better his gameplay. Weatherland has been included in Australia’s squad for the first Test of the upcoming Ashes, where Steven Smith will be seen leading the squad in the absence of Pat Cummins.

Weatherald, who is yet to make his international debut, talked about how there are certain factors like criticism from others which an athlete cannot control and only endure. The southpaw opened up on how he used to feel bogged down by the barrage of criticism which would come his way around half a decade back. He also admitted that he had a hard time coping up with that feeling of mental strain.

“In sport, there’s so much failure and so many opinions about what goes on and so many things you can’t control. I was completely consumed by that, and when you go through certain things – I have OCD. I was obsessed with getting better,” stated Weatherald, as quoted by Fox Cricket.

“But I was obsessed with everyone else as well, what everyone else thought. And when
you’re already negatively geared, it just didn’t make a great concoction for trying to be a
professional athlete and trying to enjoy yourself. I didn’t feel that happy about myself (around 2020). I tried to play it as cool as possible, but I was absolutely screaming in my head,” Weatherald added.

The ace batter has played three Sheffield Shield matches of the current season so far, and has registered three half-centurions in the six innings for Tasmania, with his highest score being 94 against Western Australia.

The 31-year-old possesses a First-Class average of 37.63 in the 76 matches he has played thus far. He has scored 5269 runs with 26 fifties and 13 hundreds under his belt. Weatherald has also played 51 List-A matches and 98 T20s.

The highly-anticipated series between Australia and England is scheduled to commence on Friday, November 21. The series-opening clash will be played at the Perth Stadium. Weatherald may well be in for a debut, which could come in a high-pressure game in the Ashes.

Australia’s squad for first Test against England: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster