Joe Weatherley Road To Recovery

Joe Weatherley’s season had begun with promise when First Team Manager Adi Birrell had confirmed that he would open the batting in this years’ County Championship.

Scores of 66 against both Yorkshire at Headingley and Nottinghamshire at Newclose, at an average of 30 had justified Birrell’s decision to place confidence in the 22-year-old.

That was until Weatherley’s season was cut short after sustaining a season ending injury during Hampshire’s visit to Taunton in July.

The Winchester born batsman had suffered a broken right ankle against Somerset resulting in an operation, which has left him side-lined ever since: 

“I got my injury half way through the season and we were doing really well, we were competing up there with Somerset and Essex and it was going really well both collectively and personally. 

“It’s been really difficult, my first proper injury which has provided a lot of challenges and you never see them coming."

Three screws, two crutches and a protective boot later, Weatherley had started a long road to recovery and he felt like it had stopped a large part of the squad’s momentum:

“We had a really good vibe in the squad at the time, Adi and Alfonso bought a really good energy and it felt like we were going some good places, but some disruptions to the team, with my injury and a few others missing we lost momentum. 

“It wasn’t enough in the end this year but it’s a great building block and third in division one is a good achievement that definitely shouldn’t be laughed at”.

After an intense rehab period, Weatherley is now three weeks into running and already looking ahead to next season:

“White ball cricket has been a focus here over the last few years but we are really looking to take our game forward in the red ball format and finally bring some County Championship silverware back to the The Ageas Bowl, so that’s the focus for us”.

But personally, his goal will be successfully making it through a full season of cricket injury free:

“I’m looking to play as much cricket next year as I possibly can, having missed such a large chunk of the season this year I’m excited to get out there and play regularly”.

A new season will present new opportunities for a number of younger players in the squad and a now fit and fighting Weatherley believes those opportunities will be a positive for Hampshire:

“A lot of the lads got picked up in the hundred draft, so that gives myself and other younger players a really good opportunity in the 50 over competition. 

“We might be weakened in that, but as will every other county and we’ll still have plenty of talent in our squad that can play and we’ll be looking to win that trophy as we have done for the last two years.”

The best way to catch the Hampshire squad in action all season long next year is with a 2020 Hampshire Cricket Membership.

More information on each Membership offering can be found online at www.ageasbowl.com/membership, over the phone on 02380 472002 (Opt. 2) or in person at the The Ageas Bowl Ticket Office (Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm).