TOPIC:

Beasley Hutton wrote:

Dazzler wrote:

Wow. How the cards have fallen.

Is there a better piece of earth on the planet to play cricket on than this joint? 

Access, opportunities, facilities. 

The Prics I mean Vics would say Melbin is the greatest place on earth and the sporting capital of the universe Dazz!

Geez they love banging on about Sporting Capital of the World over there don't they?

I wonder if the blokes sitting in the sheds waiting for the wicket to dry over October, November and December feel the same way?

You could probably safely play cricket 8 months of the year in the West, no dramas. Over there, maybe 3 months with luck.

Dazzler wrote:

I don't think we get anyone back. Green, Marsh IPL. Morris, Richardson not ready. Anyone else?

Stobo position under threat for sure. That may be the one change. 

Yes Dazz...how good would it have been to have Morris and Richardson available on a fast, bouncy WACA track. 

Fantastic week for WA cricket. A month ago they looked like they were out of the running for both titles and now they have won the one day cup for the 3rd consecutive year and have a great chance of another shield title. The bonus is that it is at the WACA, at best I thought we would have to go to Hobart but now it is on a familiar wicket as well. They shouldnt underestimate the Tassies though. They have played very well all year and just put in a shocker against SA. They have a strong batting line up and a pretty potent attack led by Meredith.
WA may want to bolster their batting by either including someone like Phillipe ( who appears to be heading interstate next season), D'arcy Short or maybe a batting all rounder like Agar. Depends on whether Hardie is fit to bowl I guess.

News out of the WACA tonight is that Cam Bancroft is out of the shield final. He apparently fell off a bike and ended up with concussion and other unspecified injuries.
First and foremost, I hope that Cam is OK and that he recovers quickly.
His absence will be really felt in the team as he is the guy that the rest of the batting line up revolves around. Someone else will now have to step up to the plate and I guess it provides an opportunity for a guy like Teague Wylie to make his mark

Phillippe is my pick to open up in this one - he is class and has all the shots which Tassie would not like to be facing (unlike Bancroft who they do know well)
Wyllie might be a good grade cricketer but he's been quickly worked out by shield bowlers - time for others to get a crack

He isn't even in the squad Southerner - I think his cards have been marked and they expect him to leave at seasons end.

Western Australia: Sam Whiteman (c), Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Aaron Hardie, Liam Haskett, Josh Inglis, Joel Paris, Corey Rocchiccioli, D'Arcy Short, Charlie Stobo, Teague Wyllie. Ins: Cooper Connolly, Teague Wyllie. Outs: Cameron Bancroft (concussion), Keaton Critchell (omitted)

I think Wyllie will play and i think it boils down to do they have Connolly or Short bat at 7 and possibly bowl a few overs. 

Remember If the match ends in a draw after five days – as it did in 2021-22 when WA were declared champions over Victoria – then the title will go to the state who secures the most bonus points after the first innings.Bonus points are awarded only in the first 100 overs of each team's first innings. The batting side earns 0.01 of a bonus point for every run over 200 in that first 100 overs (for example: 350 runs after 100 overs gets you 1.5 bonus points). The bowling side earns 0.1 of a bonus point for every wicket they take (for example: 10 wickets in the first 100 overs equals 1 bonus point).If the match is drawn and the bonus points are tied, then Western Australia will be declared the winners of the 2023-24 Sheffield Shield by virtue of finishing on top of the standings.

Gee what a disappointment Bancroft is out but a boon for Tassie.
Southy Phillipe isnt in the final squad of 14, I daresay he has played his last match for WA and is heading to NSW from next season.
Young Joel Curtis (a former Black Duck I might add) will be Inglis's back up as keeper.
I would also play Connolly ahead of Short (unless Short opens as Bancroft's replacement instead of Wyllie) as he strengthens the batting at 7 and is a better bowler than Short and could give Rocchicioli some relief if needed, with Stobo the unlucky one to make way.
My WA XI for the SS Final-

Whiteman (C)
Wyllie/Short
Goodwin
Cartwright
Inglis
Hardie
Connolly
Paris
Gannon
Rocchicioli
Haskett

Stobo, Agar and one of Wyllie or Short to miss out from the 14 man squad.
 

geez that's disappointing if it does go that way - gun bat always reminded me of the late (was it Mark?) McPhee with some of his shotmaking
hope that one doesn't bite us on the arsepiece like Katich did
experience like that would be handy today

another bad collapse - been the problem all year with this line up and it could be why the shield goes elsewhere 

Agree southerner, just a steady loss of wickets during the arvo, Cooper is batting well right now though.

We are lucky the bowlers have saved us all year