TOPIC:

Not time for panic yet but concerning that WA are on the end of a 2nd thumping in 3 games. They have been totally outplayed by NSW and there are question marks over the form some of the players who have been the mainstays of this team over the last 3 years. I know that there are a lot of first choice players absent but that hasnt stopped the team winning in previous seasons. 
Probably a good time for a break from the Shield to reassess and plan for the second half of the season.

WA are only 6.02 points behind top team SA and have three of their remaining four games at home, mikeh, so if they win those three home games they should qualify for another Shield final.
There have been some spine-tingling Shield games this season, including Queensland's 23-run win over Victoria yesterday, but none more so than the Redbacks' last-ball, two-run victory over Tassie at Bellerive today.
I can't remember the last first-class game when all four results - win, loss, draw, tie - were still possible for both teams with just the one ball to bowl.
It was a truly remarkable match that will be talked about for years by those lucky enough to have been there.

Back into the shield competition with a  match starting at the WACA against SA on saturday.
WA have a number of players either injured or on national duty.
Injured players: Whiteman, Bancroft, Richardson (also Green and Marsh but they rarely play for WA anyway)
National duty: Connelly, Inglis, Hardie. 
I have probably missed a few.
Without the two experienced openers, the opportunity opens up for young guys like Wyllie and Fanning to have an extended run in the team. The bowling looks pretty strong as usual
Possible XI for saturdays game
Wyllie 
D'arcy Short
Goodwin
Fanning
Cartwright
Turner
Curtis(WK)
Paris
Couch
Roccocholli
Morris

On a BBL matter, great to see Joel Paris back at the Scorchers
 

All to play for at the WACA over the next 2 days. With Queensland and NSW in deep trouble in their games there is an opportunity for both WA and Vic to sneak into the final with victory in this game. WA are still in it thanks to Cooper Connelly, otherwise another very ordinary batting display to add to the collection, triggered this time by David Moody and a 40 year old Peter Siddle.
The Vics are 40 runs in front but with the pitch flattening out will need to set WA some sort of target that they will chase in order to give themselves a chance
SA are miles above everybody else and it would be a shock if they didnt win the final given how they are playing

mikeh wrote:

All to play for at the WACA over the next 2 days. With Queensland and NSW in deep trouble in their games there is an opportunity for both WA and Vic to sneak into the final with victory in this game. WA are still in it thanks to Cooper Connelly, otherwise another very ordinary batting display to add to the collection, triggered this time by David Moody and a 40 year old Peter Siddle.
The Vics are 40 runs in front but with the pitch flattening out will need to set WA some sort of target that they will chase in order to give themselves a chance
SA are miles above everybody else and it would be a shock if they didnt win the final given how they are playing

Not looking good for the boys from the West.
All out for less than 200... again. Vice cruising at 5/ 218, a lead of 229.

It appears that WA, even with a team of mostly experienced players in both batting and bowling, at a struggling unit.
When does the rebuild start?

 

WA have been playing youngsters for a while now.
The likes of Goodwin, Fanning, Wyllie, Connolly, Curtis, Rocchicioli, Couch, Haskett, McKenzie, Beardman, Jackson, Morris etc would all be under 25.

This year was just one of those seasons where nothing went right either through a lack of hunger after winning 3 Shields, 3 ODD & a plethora of BBL titles this decade alone or lack of personnel.
How many games did the likes of Inglis, Hardie, Marsh, Morris, Green, Connolly, Haskett, Bancroft, Whiteman etc miss due to injury or other? Im tipping most of the games were missed from the first half dozen or so named above!

Funnily enough, as highly unlikely as it is, it’s still conceivable that WA can play in and win the shield final with one day of fixtures left. Crazy. They certainly don’t deserve to. A very ordinary effort to force a result in the previous game. 

Chasing 382, to win. Now 4/202.
Needing 180 with 33 over to play. Cartwright 54, Connolly 31.
Goodwin made 36 and Bangas 35.
Close to 6 an over needed.
Tough ask.