It appears there aren’t any new superlatives left to make use of to explain the present Western Australian facet.

Draped in gold as soon as once more final season, Western Australia pulled off the unimaginable feat of going back-to-back in each the Sheffield Defend and One-Day Cup in a dominant marketing campaign, going undefeated within the One Day Cup earlier than thumping a plucky South Australia within the ultimate, adopted by a commanding efficiency on the WACA within the Defend ultimate over a younger Victorian lineup.

It’s a real credit score to the unbelievable expertise Western Australia has produced, in addition to Adam Voges’ teaching and the Western Australian cricket panorama as a complete. They’ll go into the 2023/24 able to tackle all comers, and are charging full steam forward in the direction of a feat no different facet has achieved in Australian home cricket as they give the impression of being they pull off the ‘double three-peat’.

Western Australia rejoice after profitable the Sheffield Defend Last. (Picture by Paul Kane/Getty Photographs)

Final Season In Numbers

Sheffield Defend: Winners (6 wins, 2 attracts, 2 losses)

Main Run scorers
Cameron Bancroft (945 runs at 59.06)
Hilton Cartwright (629 runs at 39.31)
Sam Whiteman (601 runs at 31.63)

Main Wicket takers
Matt Kelly (35 wickets at 15.77)
Lance Morris (31 wickets at 19.96)
Joel Paris (27 wickets at 17.37)

One-Day Cup: Winners (7 wins, 0 losses)

Main Run scorers
Josh Philippe (438 runs at 62.57)
Cameron Bancroft (327 runs at 65.40)
D’Arcy Quick (299 runs at 42.71)

Main Wicket takers
Andrew Tye (14 wickets at 17.21)
Jason Behrendorff (12 wickets at 25.66)
Ashton Agar (6 wickets at 17.00)

Western Australia 2023-24 Squad
Ashton Agar*, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Cameron Inexperienced*, Aaron Hardie, Liam Haskett, Josh Inglis*, Bryce Jackson, Matt Kelly, Mitchell Marsh*, Hamish McKenzie, Lance Morris*, Joel Paris, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson*, Corey Rocchiccioli, D’arcy Quick, Charlie Stobo, Marcus Stoinis*, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Sam Whiteman, Teague Wyllie

Rookies: Mahli Beardman, Jayden Goodwin, Sam Greer, Josh Vernon

*Cricket Australia contract

Ins and Outs
Ins: Liam Haskett, Mahli Beardman, Josh Vernon, Andrew Tye
Outs: Shaun Marsh (retired), David Moody (delisted)

Because the outdated saying goes, ‘you don’t change a profitable facet,’ and Western Australia have nearly performed that, going by means of one other offseason with minimal modifications to their squad. Veteran batter Shaun Marsh has already introduced that the 2022/23 season can be his final for Western Australia however solely managed one match final season after spending the again finish of 2022 sidelined with damage. 28-year-old quick bowler David Moody has been a stable contributor throughout his time in West Australian colors however had been delisted as Adam Voges turns his consideration to youthful expertise.

Cameron Bancroft. (Picture by Steve Bell/Getty Photographs)

Andrew Tye has been added to the squad after enjoying as an uncontracted participant lately regardless of being a mainstay within the white-ball facet, whereas fellow fast Liam Haskett is the one different participant to earn a full contract for 2023/24 after a breakout Premier Cricket marketing campaign final season.

Squad Breakdown
Batters: Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Sam Fanning, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman, Teague Wyllie, Jayden Goodwin, Nick Hobson (Uncontracted)
Wicket-Keepers: Josh Inglis, Josh Philippe
All-Rounders: Ashton Agar, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Inexperienced, Aaron Hardie, Mitchell Marsh, D’Arcy Quick, Marcus Stoinis
Quick Bowlers: Jason Behrendorff, Cameron Gannon, Liam Haskett, Bryce Jackson, Matt Kelly, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Jhye Richardson, Charlie Stobo, Andrew Tye, Mahli Beardman, Josh Vernon, Sam Greer
Spinners: Hamish McKenzie, Corey Rocchiccioli

Evaluation
Blessed with outstanding depth in each division, Western Australia will go into the 2023/24 season with confidence regardless of shedding some key gamers to worldwide responsibility for the early elements of the season. Cameron Inexperienced, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis are all set to be concerned in Australia’s ODI World Cup marketing campaign over the approaching months, whereas different stars comparable to Ashton Agar and Jhye Richardson will even miss the beginning of the season as they get better from respective calf and hamstring accidents.

Batters Sam Whiteman and Cameron Bancroft continued as a formidable opening pair within the Defend final season, with the latter trying unstoppable at instances with 945 runs and 4 a whole bunch. Regardless of lacking out on Australia’s Ashes squad earlier this yr, one other massive season within the Defend will put him squarely within the body for a recall to the Check facet, with David Warner’s impending retirement presenting an enormous alternative for the right-hander. For a participant with simply 14 first-class matches to his identify, there’s unimaginable hype for 19-year-old Teague Wyllie, who turned a mainstay within the WA’s high order final season.

Joel Paris. (Picture by Paul Kane/Getty Photographs)

After debuting in Western Australia’s Defend ultimate triumph in 2022, he has already taken the spot of retiring nice Shaun Marsh and could possibly be set to blow up this in 2023/24 after making his maiden Defend ton final season. Hilton Cartwright’s 2022/23 marketing campaign seemingly flew below the radar, with the highly effective right-hander scoring 629 runs within the Defend, displaying his unimaginable consistency.

Cartwright was the one participant to attain greater than 600 runs final season with out making 100, however his seven 50s and common of 39.31 nonetheless spotlight his underrated significance to the Western Australian crew.

Ashton Turner returned to Western Australia’s Defend facet late final season after a close to three-year absence from red-ball cricket, and shortly reminded the cricketing world of his skills, smashing 128 within the Defend ultimate in an inspiring player-of-the-match efficiency, with the WA One-Day skipper set to play an enormous position once more this season in each codecs.

2022/23 was an actual ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ season for Josh Philippe, with the keeper-batter having a career-best One-Day Cup marketing campaign that noticed him rating 438 runs at 62.57, however appeared like a very totally different participant when going through a pink ball, managing simply 140 runs throughout 7 Defend matches.

Clearly has the expertise to change into a multi-format participant for Australia, however will probably be hoping to enhance his consistency throughout each codecs. Inglis’ absence presents an enormous alternative for Philippe, and he has began 2023/24 in a great way, making 100 for Australia A in a four-day sport in early September.

After rising to prominence by means of his heroics within the BBL ultimate final season, all-rounder Cooper Connolly appears destined for an enormous profession, however for now faces the powerful activity of cementing a spot within the Western Australian crew, particularly with the upcoming return of Ashton Agar, with whom he shares many comparable qualities.

Jason Behrendorff. (Picture by Will Russell – CA/Cricket Australia through Getty Photographs)

Though seemingly previous his prime, D’Arcy Quick definitely hasn’t fallen out of shape, with 299 runs within the One-Day Cup final season. Regardless of his efforts although, the sheer energy of Western Australia’s high order and all-rounder shares noticed him neglected of the lineup for the ultimate towards South Australia, with the likes of Marsh, Stoinis, and Inglis forcing him him out of the facet. Nonetheless among the finest white-ball hitters in Australia on his day, however could face an identical problem this season as soon as a few of their star gamers return from worldwide responsibility.

So far as real all-rounders go, Aaron Hardie is simply that. Contemporary off his T20 worldwide and ODI debuts for Australia in South Africa in August, selectors clearly see massive issues in Hardie’s future. Starred within the 2022/23 Defend ultimate however received’t be glad together with his efforts final season after beginning slowly, regardless of nonetheless managing a good 378 runs and 17 wickets within the Defend, and will probably be striving to place up some spectacular numbers this season.

Whereas South Australian head coach Jason Gillespie has gone on report to recommend his facet has one of the best fast-bowling depth within the nation, it appears he could have forgotten concerning the males from the west. Matt Kelly, Joel Paris and Lance Morris made for an extremely dynamic trio within the Defend final season, coming collectively to make the right mixture of swing, accuracy and uncooked tempo, taking a panoramic 93 wickets between them.

Kelly and Paris usually don’t get the plaudits they deserve however had been integral as soon as once more in Western Australia’s title cost, nonetheless Morris is firmly within the body for a saggy inexperienced after narrowly lacking out final season, with the lightning fast 25-year-old poised to make a huge impact if he can overcome again points which have plagued him over latest months.

NSW-born Charlie Stobo supplied good assist the the headline acts, taking 20 Defend wickets from simply 5 matches after placing himself front-and-centre for a callup after some sturdy performances in Premier and Second XI cricket earlier within the season. Stobo’s transfer west has paid dividends to this point after he didn’t breakthrough in his house state, and could have a task to play as soon as once more in 2023/24 for WA.

It’s a testomony to Jhye Richardson’s uncooked expertise that Cricket Australia continues to again the speedster regardless of his persistent damage points. Richardson will face a delayed begin to the season as soon as once more however seemingly stays within the body for nationwide choice regardless of his lack of sport time in home cricket over latest years. The dearth of cricket all through his profession makes it simple to overlook that Richardson is now 27, and he’ll be determined so as to add to his tally of 24 first-class matches and profit from his prime years.

Jhye Richardson. (Picture by Will Russell/Getty Photographs)

Veteran quicks Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye will lead the road within the white ball cricket as soon as once more, with the pair displaying little signal of slowing down as they proceed to terrorise opposition batters within the One-Day Cup. The skilled Cameron Gannon is a ready-made choice if known as upon, whereas WA additionally has a breadth of youthful choices in Bryce Jackson, Liam Haskett, Mahli Beardman, Josh Vernon and Sam Greer raring to go.

With Ashton Agar absent for giant chunks of the 2022/23 season it opened the door for Corey Rocchiccioli, with the off-spinner having fun with a career-best Defend season with 25 wickets, an achievement made much more spectacular when you think about the truth that Western Australian pitches don’t usually cater to spinners. It stays to be seen whether or not he’ll nonetheless be favoured if Agar is offered, however the 25-year-old will probably be seeking to profit from his alternatives as soon as once more with Agar’s damage conserving him out of the facet within the early elements of the season.

Predicted Sheffield Defend XI
Sam Whiteman (c)
Cameron Bancroft
Teague Wyllie
Hilton Cartwright
Ashton Turner
Josh Philippe (wk)
Aaron Hardie
Joel Paris
Matthew Kelly
Corey Rocchiccioli
Lance Morris

Predicted One-Day Cup XI
D’Arcy Quick
Josh Philippe (wk)
Cameron Bancroft
Ashton Turner (c)
Hilton Cartwright
Aaron Hardie
Cooper Connolly
Matthew Kelly
Andrew Tye
Jason Behrendorff
Lance Morris

*Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Inexperienced, Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis all excluded resulting from nationwide crew commitments, whereas Jhye Richardson and Ashton Agar will probably be unavailable for the beginning of the season resulting from damage.

How They’ll Go

It might virtually be thought of outlandish to not again in Western Australia to do all of it once more. Given how dominant their final two seasons have been, their squad arguably solely rising stronger and no standout challenger at this stage, no facet has ever been higher positioned to take house double silverware for the third yr in a row.

Defend Prediction: Winners

One-Day Cup Prediction: Winners