Clayton talks on being backed by Uzzie | 09:50
Will Faulkner from Fox Sports activities@willfaulknerfoxNovember 5th, 2026 5:14 pm
Just over a decade ago, a 17-year-old Jack Clayton had each intention of one day taking part in within the AFL.
Recognised as a NEAFL Rising Star nominee throughout his time within the Brisbane Lions Academy, the agile 184cm utility had a neat left-foot kick that was manner too good for any cricket staff’s warm-up.
But, as his probabilities of selection within the 2017 AFL Draft faded, Clayton returned to grade cricket “for enjoyable” that October, taking part in third Grade for the University of Queensland.
4 starts with the bat — with scores ranging between 14 and 32 — and six wickets with the ball earned him a more permanent call-up to UQ’s 2nd Grade, and he’s hardly missed a beat since.
Nine years on, Clayton has emerged as Australia’s latest Check bolter — having stumbled into a professional cricket career he admits was by no means a part of the plan. And now, with Australia’s high order underneath growing scrutiny ahead of its Check summer time towards New Zealand, the 27-year-old has emerged as a genuine contender to fill one of the crucial coveted positions within the nationwide facet.
“Once I was 17, I gave away cricket to pursue the footy dream for a couple of years. That didn’t turn out the way that I needed it to, but I additionally discovered a number of classes out of that have as well. I bought to do a number of cool things with my footy,” Clayton advised Fox Cricket’s Domesticated.
“I principally simply came again and needed to play some cricket for enjoyable on the weekend. I used to be taking part in third Grade for my native membership University of Queensland, and I used to be lucky sufficient to score just a few runs that season.
“I ended up getting moved into the 2s simply after Christmas, and did alright that 12 months. Then, I bought a chance within the 1st Grade the next 12 months when Peter Forrest finished up his career.
“I by no means actually had the intention of coming again to play cricket professionally, but it’s kind of simply worked out that manner. I believe the biggest factor for me is simply having fun with it; I actually enjoy taking part in cricket and I actually enjoy batting.
“That’s my greatest driver … I’m pretty lucky I get to have a hobby as my career. I’m all the time pinching myself at getting to have the ability to try this, and dwell that. It’s a childhood dream, despite the fact that I by no means anticipated to get right here. It’s a reasonably cool factor to do.”
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Ever since a stunning century on first-class debut for Queensland in February 2022, Clayton has been one of many Bulls’ most reliable figures for near half a decade.
Naturally throughout his opening seasons at professional degree, his red-ball average floated within the low-to-mid 30s, but it’s because the begin of the 2024/25 Sheffield Shield season that his numbers have grow to be eye-catching.
In those two-and-a-bit seasons, Clayton has hit 1,408 runs at a median of 46.93 — inclusive of 4 a whole lot and seven fifties.
Numerous his big scores have come at vital times for Queensland too. A second-innings century for the Bulls within the 2024/25 Shield final towards South Australia might be the most defiant knock to date.
But, it’s his most up-to-date 104 towards Victoria solely days ago that’s poured fuel on the fire for a call-up to the worldwide staff.
The left-hander reached stumps on day two on the Gabba on 99 not out, earlier than citing triple figures for the seventh time in his first-class career within the opening over of the following morning.
“It was clearly nice to get the hundred, but it was additionally an essential innings within the recreation’s situation simply to get us to a aggressive whole in that first innings,” Clayton mentioned.
“We kind of went on a bit additional than I anticipated within the day (attributable to bad mild), because the umpires mentioned they couldn’t bowl tempo anymore, so I kind of anticipated we’d go off after I was on around 90.
“Then, they introduced on Ollie Peake to maintain spin going, and I bought somewhat bit closer to 100 than I anticipated late on day two. I bought a two off the last ball on the day, after which they called it for mild.
“I believe if you happen to gave me 99 not out initially of the day, I’d probably take that! I didn’t sleep overly well (overnight), but I don’t usually sleep too well if I’m in batting.
“Notably being on 99, I used to be operating by how I used to be going to get my single or runs the following day. It probably wasn’t within the type of a french reduce, but you’re taking them any manner you can get them!”
The person standing between Clayton and a possible Check debut this summer time could possibly be his own Queensland teammate, Marnus Labuschagne, whose century drought at worldwide degree has now stretched to 49 innings.
A quirk with Labuschagne’s doable omission is the vacancy he leaves open at first drop. Having had a chokehold on the place for the most effective a part of seven years, followers have seen very few names roll by the specialist place because the finish of last decade — not like the revolving door with openers in recent times, and to a lesser extent, within the No.6 place.
Former New South Wales captain Kurtis Patterson and South Australian skipper Nathan McSweeney are among the most skilled specialist No.3 options. But on sheer weight of runs and consistency throughout the past two seasons, it’s Clayton and Patterson who’ve the strongest instances.
4 batters in spotlight to interchange Marnus | 19:41
SHEFFIELD SHIELD RECORD SINCE START OF 2024/25 SEASON
Jack Clayton: 1,408 runs @ 46.93
Kurtis Patterson: 1,581 runs @ 45.17
Nathan McSweeney: 1,077 runs @ 33.66
While the vast majority of his batting for Queensland has been completed at No.4 and within the center order, batting at first drop is much from unfamiliar for Clayton. In fact, he’s well and actually excelled in it.
“I’ve completed the No.3 role just a few times when Marnus has been away for Queensland, and I truly probably had one of my finest video games for Queensland a couple of years ago at quantity three,” Clayton defined on Domesticated.
“I believe I scored 130 within the first innings and 70 something not out within the second innings earlier than I pulled my hammy.
“I believe the three and four roles are fairly related. For the moment with our staff stability, it works out nicely that I’m at 4. But, I’ve batted quantity three most of my life coming by juniors and taking part in membership cricket … it’s not an uncommon role for me to be in, and it’s one I enjoy as well.”
The 27-year-old’s scoring prowess sq. of the wicket has grow to be a staple of his run-making in recent times, as has his cover driving when bowlers pitch it too full.
However, the true nucleus of Clayton’s recreation revolves around being more affected person than the opposition on the crease — like any succesful red-ball cricketer.
“Square of the wicket is definitely my power as a batter. My reduce shot and pull shot are kind of my go-to shots, and honestly, I try to maintain my recreation so simple as doable,” he mentioned.
“I try to defend and leave well, and construct my recreation around my defence. After they (bowlers) put the ball in areas I really feel like I can rating on specific wickets, I try to pounce on those alternatives.
“My recreation’s based around my resolution making, defence and leaving qualities. Hopefully, I can put the pressure again on the bowler by that and make them bowl to me.”
As questions continued to come up over Labuschagne’s short-term future within the Australian Check facet, former teammate and Fox Cricket skilled Usman Khawaja absolutely endorsed Clayton’s credentials as a possible substitute.
It wasn’t an endoresment that went misplaced on the Queenslander, who defined how much he had already discovered from the 88-Check nice.
“That was very kind of Uzzie to exit on a limb and say that. Not many individuals had come out and mentioned much about me within the media, so to get his backing was actually variety,” Clayton mentioned.
“I do know that talking and taking part in with him heaps, I’ve discovered a lot from him as a batter. He’s super in line with the way that he prepares for video games, and the way he approaches innings as well.
“It’s clearly been really nice to begin the season really well on a personal degree. I’m assured in my expertise and abilities to have the ability to perform.
“Whether or not you get that call, it’s out of my management. But, my essential focus is to maintain scoring runs and check out win video games for Queensland — and I really feel like I’m doing a reasonably first rate job of that at the moment.
“I really feel like I’m batting well, and I’ve simply bought to maintain that going and attempt to maintain profitable as many video games for Queensland as I can.”
Nine years after his AFL ambitions faded, Clayton is now closer than ever to representing Australia on the highest degree — simply not within the sport he as soon as imagined.
WATCH JACK CLAYTON’S FULL INTERVIEW ON FOX CRICKET’S DOMESTICATED HERE
Source: www.foxsports.com.au
