Axed Test opener’s brutal Shield setback as bizarre incident further sours nightmare return

Jake Weatherald's horror return to Sheffield Shield action has gone from bad to worse, with the discarded Australian opener ruled out of South Australia's season opener with Victoria due to concussion.

The 31-year old, who was dropped after Australia's shock Test lost to Bangladesh in Darwin in August, had a torrid first day of the Shield season in Melbourne, dropping a catch and edging behind off Victorian debutant Harry Hoekstra for a duck late in the afternoon.

However, he has an excuse, with the Redbacks confirming before the start of Day 2 a head knock sustained in the opening session was behind the concussion that would sideline him for the remainder of the match.

Weatherald slid headlong into the Junction Oval boundary fence in an unsuccessful attempt to stop an Ollie Peake boundary.

He played out the rest of the day but sustained a delayed concussion as a result.

Former NSW state batter Matthew Gilkes has been called into the team as a concussion replacement.

However, he will not be able to bat in the first innings, with Weatherald already dismissed.

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