BBL 2025-26: Jake Weatherald to miss Knockout clash for Hobart Hurricanes

Hobart Hurricanes will be without opener Jake Weatherald for their do-or-die Big Bash League (BBL) 2025-26 Knockout final against Melbourne Stars, with the batter opting to prioritise red-ball cricket at the back end of the Australian summer.

The all-important encounter between the third-placed Hurricanes and fourth-placed Stars will be played at Ninja Stadium on Wednesday, January 21. Both sides missed the opportunity to secure a top-two finish in their final regular-season matches, forcing them into the elimination fixture.

Defending champions Hobart Hurricanes squandered a chance to finish top of the ladder after faltering in a modest run chase against Brisbane Heat, while the Stars suffered a loss to Perth Scorchers in their last league stage game on Saturday.

Several Test players, including Hurricanes all-rounder Beau Webster, have made themselves available for BBL duties following the conclusion of the Ashes. However, Hurricanes coach Jeff Vaughan confirmed that Weatherald, who joined the franchise from Adelaide Strikers ahead of the season, would not feature despite Australia’s next Test not being scheduled until August.

“Jake doesn't feel ready to play this format of the game and wants to focus on red-ball cricket at the back-end of the summer. It's something we want to support Jake on. He's had a huge Ashes year. To play a full summer of Test cricket is pretty arduous. He wants to be best prepared for [Sheffield] Shield cricket  and ensure he is the No.1 opening batsman in Australia,” Vaughan told as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“Not going to lie, [we] would have loved to win that [against Perth Scorchers]. [But] it's a great position to be in, in the last game of the season to have that ability to finish top of the ladder. We just have to do it a different way now," he said.

Vaughan added that three or four players are being considered to replace English import Rehan Ahmed, who has departed for England’s tour of Sri Lanka. He also confirmed the Hurricanes have debriefed following their collapse against Brisbane, acknowledging that complacency may have played a role.

Hopefully he's saving them for a big finals campaign: Stoinis on Maxwell

Skipper Marcus Stoinis also backed veteran Glenn Maxwell, who has endured a lean season with the bat, scoring just 67 runs in 10 games with an average of 13.40. The Stars skipper is hopeful of Maxwell's best in the game where the title is on the line.

“These things happen to everyone, where you go through a rough patch. He's one person that comes out on top nearly every time. Hopefully he's saving them for a big finals campaign,” Stoinis said.

Notably, weather conditions could influence the outcome, with showers forecast for Hobart. A no-result would see the Hurricanes progress to the next stage due to their higher ladder position at the end of the league stage campaign.