TOPIC:

With the possibility that the WA hard border won't be removed till April, I am now wondering whether we will see any first class, one day or BBL cricket at all in Perth this summer. Unless Cricket Australia decide to set a couple of state teams in a hub in Perth to enable WA or the Scorchers to play some home games similar to what the AFL did, I can see the Warriors being based over east for the majority of the season.
The first block of Shield games is starting in Adelaide on Saturday and as usual the start of summer has the hint of optimism that WA can compete for the elusive prize but it appears that whilst the squad has strengthened its fast bowling stocks with the acquisition of Cam Gannon, the same weaknesses and gaps remain namely the over reliance on Shaun Marsh and Cameron Green in batting and the complete lack of depth in spin bowlers ( this will be very obvious in Adelaide). They have gone back to guys like Bancroft and Whiteman who didnt perform last year and yet left out Carder who showed some promise and potential.
There are also a number of players who are unavailable because of IPL commitments ( Stoinis, Phillipe). We don't also know the extent of Mitch Marsh's injury that he picked up in the UAE and had to come home.

Very disappointing we might not see any first class cricket here in WA this Summer.
Having said that at least it will be live streamed (take note WAFC) so us loyal WA cricket fans can watch the team in action.
Hoping to at last break this 20+ year SS drought but probably wishful thinking again I feel.

As for Bangers Mike the opposition just have to put in a leg slip and leg gully and he will do the rest for not many!

Interesting first day and morning session on Day 2 in the WA vs SA game at Rolton Oval with WA- 5/428.
Most of the WA batsmen got a start with only Inglis & Agar going on to score centuries, good to see Cam Green also starting the season with a half century whilst it is good to see promising young leg spinner Lloyd Pope has all 5 wickets for the SACAs!

SA 1 for 178 at stumps , looks like a very friendly track to bat on!

I cant see how it benefits anybody to have Sheffield Shield matches on roads like this. No wonder Australian batsmen struggle in challenging conditions such as seaming pitches in England

mikeh wrote: I cant see how it benefits anybody to have Sheffield Shield matches on roads like this. No wonder Australian batsmen struggle in challenging conditions such as seaming pitches in England

Spot on Mike.
These roads produced at times in SS cricket do absolutely nothing other than fattening average batsmen’s averages and confidence (until they hit a pitch with even a touch of grass then go to water) and kill bowlers confidence.
Who’s idea was it to hold the hub in SA anyway?

correct lads. I suppose we should all be grateful that the pitches' condition was such, that, not even our batsmen could contrive to collapse on it. Is Jake Lehmann playing for SACA this season?

Just checked the scores in this one and SA all out for 314 with WA 1 for 47 in their second innings. Ashton Agar took 5 for and Cameron Gannon took 3 wickets.

Jjim wrote: Just checked the scores in this one and SA all out for 314 with WA 1 for 47 in their second innings. Ashton Agar took 5 for and Cameron Gannon took 3 wickets.

A good all round double by Agar 114* with the bat and 5/103 with the ball.
Hopefully it continues.

WA now 1 for 177 Shaun Marsh 90 no off 90 balls Cameron Bancroft 65 not out.