TOPIC:

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

mikeh wrote:

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

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.