Ashley Noffke will have untold effect on young Warriors
Roar Rookie
By Brett Sprigg, 10 Aug 2009 Brett Sprigg is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- Ashley Noffke, Cricket, Domestic Cricket, Western Warriors
It’s been several months since paceman Ashley Noffke signed on to play with the Western Warriors for the 2009-10 season, but the role the former-Queenslander will play amongst a younger WA line-up is still not entirely known.
The 32-year-old returns home next week after a brief stint in England, taking 10 wickets with a best of 4-92 for county side Worcestershire, and as the Warriors squad resume training over the coming weeks, it’s clear what effect a player like Noffke can have on young Warriors teammates, such as burgeoning all-rounders Trent Kelly and Drew Porter.
While the impact of experienced quicks Brett Dorey, Steve Magoffin and Ben Edmondson can’t be understated, Noffke’s continued success at domestic level over a number of years adds another exciting facet to the Warriors list, but further encourages speculation that spots amongst quicks will be contested fiercely.
While he plays primarily as a bowler generating good pace and bounce in extended spells, his performances with the bat can’t go unmentioned, having compiled 2 first-class centuries from over 2,000 runs.
Handed his first Cricket Australia contract before the 2001 Ashes series, Noffke didn’t debut in the International arena until 2007-08, earning ODI and Twenty20 caps against India and New Zealand respectively.
In that same 2007-08 summer, he became just the third person in the history of the Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup competition to capture 50 wickets and 500 runs in a season, being named State Cricketer of the Year in 2008.
With the Cricket Australia fixtures released last week, Noffke is expected to make his debut in the black-and-gold against his former state Queensland in the season-opening Ford Ranger Cup clash on October 11 at the WACA, followed by a Sheffield Shield fixture two days later.
It may get even better for the Warriors; with the fixtures falling between the International schedule of the Champions Trophy in South Africa and Australia’s seven match ODI tour of India, WA could see a return of their international contingent – including Mitchell Johnson in his first appearance for his adopted state – and captain Marcus North.
The other highlight of the summer sure to please WACA officials and fans includes three home Twenty20 Big Bash games, set to feature West Indian captain Chris Gayle in WA colours.
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
The Crowd Says (4) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
Cricket articles
- What we do and don’t know about our Baggy Greens (112)
- Success of Twenty20 spells trouble for ODI cricket (106)
- Channel 9 commentators an annoyance this summer (102)
- One Day Cricket is suffering from Middle Child Syndrome (89)
- Cricket Australia must take a stand against racist spectators (89)
- Dave’s Warner-ful switch-hit panned by precious critics (84)
- Khawaja shouldn’t have been Shaun from the Test side (71)
- Clarke stars as Australia beat Sri Lanka
- Australia vs Sri Lanka, Perth ODI: cricket live scores, commentary (197)
- Hall of Fame for Indian legend Gavaskar
- Sri Lanka to target ‘weak’ Aussie bowlers
- India backing Rohit Sharma to find form
- Game-by-game preview of round 19
- Twenty20 cricket not up to the test (6)
- Australia vs Sri Lanka, Perth ODI: cricket live scores, commentary (197)
- Twenty20 cricket not up to the test (6)
- Pakistan’s win over England a triumph of character (21)
- Steve Waugh is right about cricket’s succession plan (5)
- India vs Sri Lanka, Perth ODI: cricket live scores, commentary (180)
- Let’s talk about selection, Test fans (28)
- Pakistan win shows what’s beautiful about the game (13)
- Explore:
- Ashley Noffke, Cricket, Domestic Cricket, Western Warriors
Greg Russell said | August 11th 2009 @ 4:26pm | Report comment
Thanks for bringing Noffke’s move to my attention. It seems to me that player movements are becoming more common in Australian domestic cricket, although they are still not nearly at the level of a genuinely professional sport.
It would be interesting to know why Noffke is leaving Qld. They are not exactly overflowing with fast bowlers, so I would have thought they would be desperate to retain him.
WA has done well out of Qld when it comes to fast bowlers, e.g. Noffke, Johnson (who admittedly moved for personal reasons, with his girlfriend living in Perth), Steve Magoffin, Ben Edmondson.
Can any West Australians tell me why the state produces lots of batsmen (Langer, Martyn, M Hussey, North, S Marsh, Pomersbach, Voges, D Hussey, Katich, etc.) but struggles to produce bowlers?
Dave said | August 11th 2009 @ 4:44pm | Report comment
Fast bowlere being taller athletes are more likely to be taken by AFL in Western Australia
Hammer said | August 11th 2009 @ 4:42pm | Report comment
Think you’ll find Noffke wasn’t to happy with Queensland he was only offered a 1 year deal and told he wouldn’t be considered for 20/20 selection or guaranteed an ODI spot
Whiteline said | August 14th 2009 @ 1:41am | Report comment
Dave makes a good point about the taller players going to football.
Another issue in WA is the culture within the current group is questionable and has been for a while. The issue with Pomersbach last week highlights a few things which most of the public are oblivious too. He and a few others have been in strife a few times and the work ethic doesn’t seem to be ideal – that’s the general feeling among the cricket community.
WA haven’t had much success for a decade so a few questions are being asked across the board in WA cricket.