Just over a decade ago, a 17-year-old Jack Clayton had every intention of one day playing in the AFL.
Recognised as a NEAFL Rising Star nominee during his time in the Brisbane Lions Academy, the agile 184cm utility had a neat left-foot kick that was way too good for any cricket team’s warm-up.
But, as his chances of selection in the 2017 AFL Draft faded, Clayton returned to grade cricket “for fun” that October, playing 3rd Grade for the University of Queensland.
Four 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 Test bolter — having stumbled into a professional cricket career he admits was never part of the plan. And now, with Australia’s top order under increasing scrutiny ahead of its Test summer against New Zealand, the 27-year-old has emerged as a genuine contender to fill one of the most coveted positions in the national side.
“When 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 wanted it to, but I also learned a lot of lessons out of that experience as well. I got to do a lot of cool things with my footy,” Clayton told Fox Cricket’s Domesticated.
“I basically just came back and wanted to play some cricket for fun on the weekend. I was playing 3rd Grade for my local club University of Queensland, and I was lucky enough to score a few runs that season.
“I ended up getting moved into the 2s just after Christmas, and did alright that year. Then, I got a chance in the 1st Grade the following year when Peter Forrest finished up his career.
“I never really had the intention of coming back to play cricket professionally, but it’s kind of just worked out that way. I think the biggest thing for me is just enjoying it; I really enjoy playing cricket and I really enjoy batting.
“That’s my biggest driver … I’m pretty lucky I get to have a hobby as my career. I’m always pinching myself at getting to be able to do that, and live that. It’s a childhood dream, even though I never expected to get here. It’s a pretty cool thing 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 the Bulls’ most reliable figures for close to half a decade.
Naturally during his opening seasons at professional level, his red-ball average floated in the low-to-mid 30s, but it’s since the start of the 2024/25 Sheffield Shield season that his numbers have become eye-catching.
In those two-and-a-bit seasons, Clayton has hit 1,408 runs at an average of 46.93 — inclusive of four hundreds and seven fifties.
A lot of his big scores have come at critical times for Queensland too. A second-innings century for the Bulls in the 2024/25 Shield final against South Australia might be the most defiant knock to date.
But, it’s his most recent 104 against Victoria only days ago that’s poured fuel on the fire for a call-up to the international team.
The left-hander reached stumps on day two at the Gabba on 99 not out, before bringing up triple figures for the seventh time in his first-class career in the opening over of the next morning.
“It was obviously nice to get the hundred, but it was also an important innings in the game’s situation just to get us to a competitive total in that first innings,” Clayton said.
“We kind of went on a bit further than I expected in the day (due to bad light), because the umpires said they couldn’t bowl pace anymore, so I kind of expected we’d go off when I was on around 90.
“Then, they brought on Ollie Peake to keep spin going, and I got a little bit closer to 100 than I expected late on day two. I got a two off the last ball on the day, and then they called it for light.
“I think if you gave me 99 not out at the start of the day, I’d probably take that! I didn’t sleep overly well (overnight), but I don’t normally sleep too well if I’m in batting.
“Particularly being on 99, I was running through how I was going to get my single or runs the next day. It probably wasn’t in the form of a french cut, but you take them any way you can get them!”
The man standing between Clayton and a potential Test debut this summer could be his own Queensland teammate, Marnus Labuschagne, whose century drought at international level has now stretched to 49 innings.
A quirk with Labuschagne’s possible omission is the vacancy he leaves open at first drop. Having had a chokehold on the position for the best part of seven years, fans have seen very few names roll through the specialist position since the end of last decade — unlike the revolving door with openers in recent years, and to a lesser extent, in the No.6 position.
Former New South Wales captain Kurtis Patterson and South Australian skipper Nathan McSweeney are among the most experienced specialist No.3 options. But on sheer weight of runs and consistency across the past two seasons, it’s Clayton and Patterson who have the strongest cases.
4 batters in spotlight to replace 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 majority of his batting for Queensland has been done at No.4 and in the middle order, batting at first drop is far from unfamiliar for Clayton. In fact, he’s well and truly excelled in it.
“I’ve done the No.3 role a few times when Marnus has been away for Queensland, and I actually probably had one of my best games for Queensland a couple of years ago at number three,” Clayton explained on Domesticated.
“I think I scored 130 in the first innings and 70 something not out in the second innings before I pulled my hammy.
“I think the three and four roles are fairly similar. For the moment with our team stability, it works out nicely that I’m at four. But, I’ve batted number three most of my life coming through juniors and playing club cricket … it’s not an unusual role for me to be in, and it’s one I enjoy as well.”
The 27-year-old’s scoring prowess square of the wicket has become a staple of his run-making in recent years, as has his cover driving when bowlers pitch it too full.
However, the true nucleus of Clayton’s game revolves around being more patient than the opposition at the crease — like any capable red-ball cricketer.
“Square of the wicket is definitely my strength as a batter. My cut shot and pull shot are kind of my go-to shots, and honestly, I try and keep my game as simple as possible,” he said.
“I try and defend and leave well, and build my game around my defence. When they (bowlers) put the ball in areas I feel like I can score on particular wickets, I try and pounce on those opportunities.
“My game’s based around my decision making, defence and leaving qualities. Hopefully, I can put the pressure back on the bowler through that and make them bowl to me.”
As questions continued to arise over Labuschagne’s short-term future in the Australian Test side, former teammate and Fox Cricket expert Usman Khawaja fully endorsed Clayton’s credentials as a potential replacement.
It wasn’t an endoresment that went lost on the Queenslander, who explained how much he had already learned from the 88-Test great.
“That was very kind of Uzzie to go out on a limb and say that. Not many people had come out and said much about me in the media, so to get his backing was really kind,” Clayton said.
“I know that talking and playing with him heaps, I’ve learned so much from him as a batter. He’s super consistent with the way that he prepares for games, and the way he approaches innings as well.
“It’s obviously been really nice to start the season really well on a personal level. I’m confident in my skills and abilities to be able to perform.
“Whether or not you get that call, it’s out of my control. But, my main focus is to keep scoring runs and try win games for Queensland — and I feel like I’m doing a pretty decent job of that at the moment.
“I feel like I’m batting well, and I’ve just got to keep that going and try to keep winning as many games for Queensland as I can.”
Nine years after his AFL ambitions faded, Clayton is now closer than ever to representing Australia at the highest level — just not in the sport he once imagined.
WATCH JACK CLAYTON’S FULL INTERVIEW ON FOX CRICKET’S DOMESTICATED HERE
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