Zanden Jeh was in a classroom when his phone rang. A voicemail from Tony Dodemaide, one of Australia’s national selectors, had landed while he was teaching. He called back and found out he had earned a spot in the Australia A squad. The 21-year-old Brisbane-based spinner, who has quietly been building a name for himself, was in.
Jeh’s call-up comes ahead of Australia A’s upcoming series against Sri Lanka A in Darwin. The tour includes three one-day games and two four-day matches. For Jeh, this is not just an early career boost. It’s a match-up that carries personal weight.
“My dad was the first person I called,” Jeh said. “He was at work down in Hobart. It was a cool moment to share with him. Some surprise, a lot of joy, and just that feeling of being ready to rip in.”
Jeh’s cricketing story has an international lineage. His father, Michael Jeh, was born in Sri Lanka and played first-class cricket in England before settling in Australia. “I’m half Sri Lankan, half Aussie. Two countries that love their cricket,” Jeh said. “Dad was a big driver in that for us. We used to play in the corridor at home. There’s been a lot of love for cricket on both sides of the family.”
It’s the kind of background that doesn’t just shape talent but perspective. Jeh speaks about the game with the unfiltered energy of someone who still pinches himself when he walks onto a field and finds a national player at the other end.
Take his moment against Glenn Maxwell, for instance. Jeh dismissed Maxwell while playing for Queensland in a second XI fixture. “Everyone, particularly myself, was absolutely stoked to just get the opportunity,” he recalled. “Getting that wicket was a bit more luck than anything else really. He holed out to deep square, but there’s no pictures on the scorecard, I guess.”
Jeh bowls left-arm orthodox but is naturally right-handed. “I write and kick with my right, but I bat and bowl left,” he laughed. “I don’t know how that happened.”
When asked about his influences, Jeh rattles off names with ease. “I always loved watching Mike Hussey bat. He was a bit of a role model growing up. I used to try and base my cover drive off his. Bowling-wise, I looked up to Jadeja and Rangana Herath. Watching them was pretty special.”
More recently, Jeh has kept an eye on the likes of Mitch Santner and Matt Kuhnemann. “I’ve had the pleasure of playing against Matt and watching how he goes about his business. I try to absorb as much as I can.”
For now, Jeh is simply looking forward to the next step. He knows the competition will be tough, the conditions unfamiliar, and the spotlight a little brighter. But there’s no hint of nerves, just the same grounded enthusiasm that has carried him this far.