Top-order batsman Jake Weatherald has opened up on how his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder shapes his eagerness to improve every game. Weatherland has been selected in the Australia squad for the opening Test of the upcoming Ashes as Steven Smith takes charge of the side in the absence of skipper Pat Cummins. Weatherald, yet to make his international debut, spoke about the fact that there are certain factors such as criticism coming from others, which an athlete cannot control but only endure. The southpaw opened up on how he used to feel bogged down by the barrage of criticism which used to come his way around half a decade back. He also admitted to having a hard time coping with that feeling of mental strain. The ace batter has played three Sheffield Shield matches of the current season so far, and registered three half-centurions in the six innings for Tasmania, including a highest score of 94 against Western Australia. Here is what Weatherald said as quoted by Fox Cricket: "In sport, there's so much failure and so many opinions about what goes on and so many things you can't control. I was completely consumed by that, and when you go through certain things - I have OCD. I was obsessed with getting better," Also Read | WPL 2026 Mega Auction: Full List of Retained Players, Rules, and Team Purses The 31-year-old has a First-Class average of 37.63 in the 76 matches he has played so far. He has scored 5269 runs with 26 fifties and 13 hundreds under his belt. Weatherald has also played 51 List-A matches and 98 T20s. The highly-anticipated series between Australia and England will begin on Friday, November 21. The series-opening clash will be played at the Perth Stadium. Weatherald may well be in for a debut, which could come in a high-pressure game in the Ashes. Australia's full squad for first Test against England Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster