He hit a century in his second List A match.
When Australia’s batting stocks are at an all-time low, Hugh Weibgen is one name that could be in the limelight for years to come. The former Under-19 World Cup-winning captain has a bright future and has started to take steps in the right direction.
Australia won their fourth Under-19 World Cup in 2024, with Hugh Weibgen leading the next generation of stars. They defeated India in the final to clinch the trophy. Mahli Beardman was the star for Australia with 3/15 in seven overs, while Weibgen scored a crucial 48 in the first innings.
From that batch of U19 stars, Beardman is earmarked as the future of Australia, while we have discussed how exciting Callum Vidler is. Enough has been said about Sam Konstas. One guy who has flown under the radar is Weibgen.
The Brisbane-born youngster was instrumental in their title-winning campaign. He was the fourth-highest run-getter in the tournament with 304 runs, averaging 50.66 and striking at 83.28. His best came in the Super Six clash against England, where he hit a superb 120 off 126 balls.
His first introduction on a bigger stage was in the previous edition of the Big Bash League. He came in as a concussion substitute and smashed a six off Jason Behrendorff in the penultimate over under pressure.
ALSO READ:
Unlike Konstas, Weibgen’s development hasn’t been as swift. He is yet to play in senior men’s First-Class cricket and has only two List A and six T20 games to his name. But that didn’t stop him from showcasing his potential.
In his second List A match, Weibgen produced a match-defining knock for Queensland. Chasing 322, they were reeling at 38/4 with the likes of Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw back in the hut. Weibgen then goes on to smash an unbeaten 115 off 94 deliveries. He struck nine fours and five sixes to power his side over the line.
Weibgen is rated pretty highly in the domestic circuit. Kane Richardson recently spoke highly about the youngster on the Unplayable Podcast. The Aussie pacer was impressed with how focused Weibgen is on his game and doesn’t run after other things.
The right-hand batter is technically sound and has a good range of shots in his arsenal. He can hit the ball long and clean, and brings an all-round skill set with his off-break bowling. He has also shown that he has a calm head on his shoulders.
All in all, Hugh Weibgen passes the eye test with flying colours. He has age on his side, and given the talent he possesses, there’s no doubt the cricketing world will be hearing about him for years to come. There’s plenty of noise around the lack of depth in Australia’s batting talent. But if developed well, Weibgen could be the answer they’re looking for.
For more updates, follow CricXtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
