Photo Credit: Western Australian Cricket Association
After a summer which yielded a Marsh Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup double for the third consecutive season, our state-based players have taken their talents abroad over the past couple of weeks.
Star opener Cameron Bancroft has fully recovered from the concussion that kept him out of the Shield Final last month, suiting up for Gloucestershire in their opening two fixtures of the English County Championship.
While the first match of the campaign was washed out, Bancroft struck an important half-century (70 off 196 balls) as his side were bowled out for 263 in the first innings.
He is set to be available for the entire red-ball component of the English summer, as he prepares for another domestic campaign for Western Australia in 2024-25.
Meanwhile, the Indian Premier League has a strong WA flavour, with our trio of powerful allrounders and a tearaway quick and having an impact in the early stages of the tournament.
Dynamic allrounder Marcus Stoinis has showcased his power in the early stages of the prestigious competition for Lucknow Super Giants, striking 122 runs at an impressive strike rate of 137.07 in the first six matches. He produced a match-winning effort against Gujarat Titans, top-scoring for his side with 58 not out off 43 balls as Lucknow cruised to victory.
Cameron Green has had a change of franchises, after being transferred from Mumbai Indians to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
The destructive allrounder is still finding his feet in a team that features superstars Faf Du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli, but struck 33 not out off 21 balls batting at number three against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29.
Fast bowler Jhye Richardson has also tasted IPL action for the first time in three years, when he took to the field for Delhi against Mumbai. While Mumbai compiled 5-234 off 20 overs, Richardson produced a relatively tidy spell of 0-40 off his four overs.
Head Coach Adam Voges has also been involved in the IPL for the first time, joining up with fellow West Australian Justin Langer at Lucknow Super Giants as a Batting Consultant.
Experienced left-armer Jason Behrendorff has not featured, after an untimely leg injury suffered at state training just days out from the tournament.
Reigning Allan Border Medallist Mitch Marsh represented the Delhi Capitals for the opening four matches, producing a couple of valuable cameos at the top of the order, opening alongside fellow Australian David Warner.
It has been a tough tournament for Marsh, after suffering a hamstring injury on April 3. He has returned home to Perth in preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup in July.
Marsh is the favourite to be named Australian skipper ahead of the tournament played in the West Indies and United States, while fellow West Aussies Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Jason Behrendorff, Ashton Agar and Josh Inglis are all in the mix to feature in the 15-player squad.
Name of Author: Western Australia Cricket Association
WA Cricket, formerly known as the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA), is the governing body for cricket in Western Australia. Established on November 5, 1885, the WACA opened its iconic ground, the WACA Ground, in 1893.
