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Ashley Noffke will have untold effect on young Warriors

Brett Sprigg new author
Roar Rookie
9th August, 2009
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Brett Sprigg new author
Roar Rookie
9th August, 2009
4

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.

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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.

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