Bit of a sluggish start to the 24/25 season for WA. The last defeat, to SA was borderline chokemont…3/133 chasing 164, then to lose by 3 runs…pretty piss poor and so un WA like under Voges.
WA have been going in a batsman/all rounder short in both games for mine.
Having Holt/Agar coming in at 6 & 7 says it all really, both are genuine no.8s imho, no higher, not even sure Holt is better than Curtis either.
Could Bancroft or Whiteman take the gloves and we bring in another batsman?
Probably doesnt help we have the likes of batting allrounders- Marsh, Hardie, Inglis, Connolly, Green, plus young speedstar Beardman all unavailable playing in a mickey mouse one day tournament in England atm either!
Good comeback by WA, after a disastrous 2/0 start…followed quickly by Marsh getting out. 2 contrasting tons, but both equally important as the other, in Whiteman and Inglis. Whiteman being the glue, and Inglis with his inventive strokeplay, turning the tide for WA.
Push up past 350, and hopefully put the Qld top order under the pump early on…though will be a tough ask, as Renshaw, Uzzie and Marnus are pretty decent at the Shield level. Not the strongest of WA bowling attacks either…well not WA’s strongest at least, if all were fit and available.
After being 2/0 off the first 2 balls of the match we did well to recover and score 465 thanks to Whiteman, Inglis, Connolly, Gannon.
Interesting to see our pace bowling attack of Gannon, Kelly, Couch!
Gannon was outstanding last season so no surprise to see him picked and has been our best again so far today but Kelly barely got on the park last year with numerous injuries & Couch I would have thought had a fair few in front of him including Richardson, Morris, Paris, Hardie, Stobo, Jackson, Beardman, Haskett, Greer…
I see Bancroft has followed up his first ball of the match golden duck with a third ball duck in the second.
Not that it really matters in the national selectors scheme of things as 19yo NSW opening sensation Sam Konstas will be our next Test opener, being a sky blue cap he would already have had his baggy green hand delivered! 
Well in pursuit of 4 Shield titles in a row we had our first win of the Shield summer albeit chasing a meagre 83 for outright victory we were 4/18 at one point before the inform duo of Cartwright & Inglis got us home.
As for Bancroft & M.Marsh not sure how either could be even looked at for this upcoming Indian series, both horribly out of form with the bat and in the latter’s case not even bowling atm either.
We play Tassie in a one dayer here Friday before we head off to Hobart to play them again in back to back Shield clashes.
I daresay with the likes of Roccichioli, Connolly, Bancroft, Inglis, Marsh, Cartwright all unavailable due to either Australia A duties or new borns, there will be a few batting changes. Wyllie, Goodwin, Wasley, Fanning, Turner, should all be up for selection and hopefully Richardson, Morris & Paris are all fit to start bowling again in the Shield?
Yesterday practising in the WACA nets the one day squad - Morris, Stobo, Agar, Paris, Short, Jackson, Beardman. Freakish depth of talent in this state, lots of talented young players at grade level and lads like Bosisto, Curtis going mental. Could probably field 3 shield teams and be competitive in all of them.
[quote=“Dazzler post=238509 userid=1005”]Yesterday practising in the WACA nets the one day squad - Morris, Stobo, Agar, Paris, Short, Jackson, Beardman. Freakish depth of talent in this state, lots of talented young players at grade level and lads like Bosisto, Curtis going mental. Could probably field 3 shield teams and be competitive in all of them.
[/quote]
Yep with only 10% of the population we are producing well and truly above our weight in regards to cricket talent.
And yet the self proclaimed so called “Sporting Capital of the Universe” Victoria continue to under deliver in that aspect decade after decade!
WA have had to make 7 changes to their line up from last week due to the Australia A game, the meaningless one day series vs Pakistan & injury.
Good to see former SD boy Joel Curtis get another chance with the gloves in place of Josh Inglis.
What an outstanding performance by the Warriors to beat Tasmania by an innings on their home ground. This coming a week after the embarrassment of being bowled out for 53 by the same team.
As well as this it was virtually a 2nd XI team that did the job. Here is a list of those that were missing for various reasons
Bancroft
Whiteman
Hardie
Marsh
Green
Inglis
Connolly
Stobo
Richardson
Roccocholli
Morris
As well as those 11 players there are guys like Haskett, Beardman, Jackson, Mckenzie Berendorff, Tye and Short who have also been involved in varying degrees.
The depth in WA cricket at the moment is quite staggering
Interestingly and we are only the first week of November but last season’s finalists have now completed all games against each other and won’t play again until either the final or next season - that’s one strange fixture for sure
[quote=“mikeh post=238751 userid=926”]What an outstanding performance by the Warriors to beat Tasmania by an innings on their home ground. This coming a week after the embarrassment of being bowled out for 53 by the same team.
As well as this it was virtually a 2nd XI team that did the job. Here is a list of those that were missing for various reasons
Bancroft
Whiteman
Hardie
Marsh
Green
Inglis
Connolly
Stobo
Richardson
Roccocholli
Morris
As well as those 11 players there are guys like Haskett, Beardman, Jackson, Mckenzie Berendorff, Tye and Short who have also been involved in varying degrees.
The depth in WA cricket at the moment is quite staggering
[/quote]
Mike Brody Couch (a discard from the self proclaimed Sporting Capital of the Universe) took a hattrick in that TAS second innings capitulation of 98.
I believe that is WA’s first hattrick in the Shield?
Quite a shock when you consider we have had many Test bowlers the quality of McKenzie, Lock, Lillee, Alderman, Clark, Malone, Yardley, Mann, Massie, Reid, Matthews, Angel, Julian, Hogan etc etc.
Also we were a bowler down with Kelly injured again in the first innings, so even more remarkable.
Hopefully WA doesn’t repeat that disappointing 1st innings effort v Victoria in their 2nd dig…poor ole Bangers looks well n truly cooked…time to blood that young Freo opening bat with the Saffie name
Will be interesting to see what they do when Whiteman comes back from injury. Fanning has done OK so a bit tough to drop him. I think Bangers needs a break from 1st class cricket to sort out his technique.
WA showing their character today by fighting this game out despite being comprehensively outplayed on the first two days.
Its likely to be in vain though barring a Melbourne rainstorm ( which is not out of the question given their climate). One bright light in the whole match is that WA seem to have another talented wicket keeper batsman in Joel Curtis. Lets hope he can go on and make a maiden ton tomorrow. Curtis is likely to get an extended run in the WA team given that Josh Inglis is now a part of the Australian test set up.
Luckily for the Warriors, their closest rival (SA) lost heavily so even though defeat seems inevitable in this game, it hasn’t really impacted on their ladder position. They play SA in a pink ball game next weekend and I believe Jhye Richardson is available for this match. The main decision for WA selector is whether to persist with Bangers even though he is a walking wicket ATM. If Sam Whiteman is fit, does Bangers go out or will they drop Fanning who has been doing OK without setting the world on fiire
Fingers crossed Joel Curtis (the former Swans player) can go on and make his first ton in first class cricket this morning.
Agar (shoulder injury) wont bat again I suspect so he only has Couch & Rocchiccioli left to support him.
Batting aside he didnt have a great Vic innings with the gloves putting down a couple of chances unfortunately.
As for Bancroft not only is his technique still deficient but his confidence is now totally shot and maybe a break from the game for a freshen up might do him the world of good?!
Great response by the warriors after that disappointing loss to the Vics. Just a pity that they couldn’t take those last 4 SA wickets to snatch the outright. Plenty of positives from the game though
Goodwins century and half century
Successful returns for Richardson and Morris, albeit that injury scare for Jhye on the 2nd day
Paris again proving his class
Some good bowling from Critchell
Finally some runs for Bangers.
NSW in Sydney next, which is always a tough one but a win will send us in to the BBL break with a bit of momentum, particularly as 3 of the last 4 fixtures in Feb/March are at the WACA
While it was great to see Cam Bancroft return to form with a century, given that another failure may have seen him dropped for the upcoming NSW game, I thought WA was far too conservative with their last-day declaration.
With their far-from-convincing batting line-up, the Redbacks were never going to chase down 364 on the last day.
As it stood, there were rain interruptions and SA finished at 6-208.
Had WA batted with a bit more urgency late on Day 3, they could’ve declared overnight and bought themselves more time to dismiss SA.
Totally agree Arch…Bangers was the problem, spent ages at the crease trying to find some form, much to WA detriment in terms of shield points. But what is done is done.
I didnt realize Paris has 180 odd first class wickets at a smidgen under 20…sadly injury has been the fella’s curse.
Jayden Goodwin is starting to take his batting to another level this season, he could well be our next young Test batsman if he continues his form.
Why wasnt Hardie available for the SA game?
Critchell looked quite handy especially with the ball where he was swinging the pink ball.
Fingers crossed Paris gets a full season in from here as his record is second to none at Shield level.