Melbourne, Dec. 28 -- Following his side's Boxing Day Test loss to England at Melbourne, Australia's hard-hitting opener Travis Head backed a struggling, inconsistent opening partner Jake Weatherald, who made his international debut during this series, to excel at the highest level of cricket.

Weatherald filled the opening vacancy that has never truly been filled since David Warner's retirement and was picked for the series after fine performances for Tasmania and Australia A in recent years.

A 950-run, chart-topping Sheffield Shield 2024 season, coupled with fine performances for Australia A, created the hype around the 31-year-old, who had scored 301 runs in four Shield matches with three fifties, averaging around 37, before the Ashes...