Not long ago, a full-strength Western Australia side was better than many Test teams. Now interstate players will be flown in to represent WA against England this month to ensure a less lopsided encounter.
The news reported by cricinfo.com should make followers of WA cricket feel sick.
The WA sides of yore regularly beat touring international teams. When England played WA in the lead up to the Ashes in October 2002, the touring side had their confidence dented after being comfortably defeated.
The English XI was rolled for 221 in the two-day game.
WA then scored 318 thanks to a batting line-up which featured current Australian opener Chris Rogers, recently-retired champion Mike Hussey, prolific run maker Murray Goodwin, and three players who would later represent Australia – Marcus North, Shaun Marsh and Luke Ronchi.
Bear in mind, too, that legendary Sandgropers Justin Langer, Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist were all missing from that WA team.
In that era, nothing less was expected from the state side. Between 1971 and 1999, WA lifted the Sheffield Shield an astounding 13 times in 28 seasons.
During that period the next best outfit was NSW, who won it just six times.
Since their last Shield triumph in the 1998-99 season, WA have not managed to qualify for the final once.
As a WA born-and-bred lad and passionate supporter of State cricket, I have found the demise harrowing to witness.
During the 1990s I was a WACA member and attended dozens of State games.
For a kid with hopes of donning the baggy gold cap, it was inspiring to watch WA dominate during perhaps the strongest-ever era of Australian cricket.
Circa 1999 WA could field a side arguably better than Australia’s current Test line-up:
1. Justin Langer
2. Chris Rogers
3. Simon Katich
4. Mike Hussey
5. Damien Martyn
6. Tom Moody
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Brad Hogg
9. Brendon Julian
10. Joe Angel
11. Matt Nicholson
WA cricket was so strong some gifted players had to move interstate to get a game, including the likes of David Hussey, who has since scored more than 13,000 first-class runs at an average of 52.
Yet in the past decade, the Warriors have been reduced to pinching fringe players from other states in an effort to remain competitive.
The lack of home grown pace bowlers is the biggest quandary.
For the past few seasons, New South Welshman Michael Hogan and Queenslander Steve Magoffin were the lynchpins of the WA attack.
This summer, quicks Mitchell Johnson (Queensland), Nathan Rimmington (Queensland), Burt Cockley (NSW) and Jason Benhrendorff (NSW) are in the mix to represent WA.
Nathan Coulter-Nile is the only locally-produced paceman guaranteed of a spot in WA’s full-strength Shield team.
In fact, he’s the only local bowler certain to get a gig, with Victorian imports Ashton Agar and Michael Beer battling for the spin role.
WA has produced some gifted batsman since its era of pre-eminence, with the likes of Marcus North, Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges all enjoying some success at international level.
Yet that trio of accomplished veterans went missing when the Warriors so badly needed them last summer.
They combined for 725 runs at an average of 21 in the Shield and did not manage a single century between them in their 36 innings.
In the entire Shield campaign only one WA player registered triple figures – then 20-year-old Marcus Harris.
The baby-faced opener was comfortably his State’s leading Shield run scorer despite averaging just 25 for the season.
Of that aforementioned trio of older players, Voges can be somewhat excused as his campaign was not as diabolical as those of North or Marsh.
He was also coming off a brilliant 2011-12 season in which he plundered 757 runs at 54 in the Shield.
However, both North and Marsh have averaged 23 over the past two Shield seasons.
The fact North, at age 34, is still very likely to get a gig in WA’s starting Shield team is an indication of the lack of talent in the state.
Marsh, meanwhile, is very fortunate to still be on the radar of the national selectors such have been his struggles at first-class level.
The prodigiously-talented but fickle left hander even appears to have a chance, albeit a very slim one, of playing in this summer’s Ashes having been part of the recent Australia A tour of Africa.
Let’s hope he can at least produce some fine cricket to help WA challenge the English XI next month.
Even if it is in a side embarrassingly boosted by interstate imports.
davros
Guest
well thank you for that ..I thought he was just a mushie brain in a tin can
Francis Curro
Roar Pro
The problem with WA cricket is the batsman are not consistent enough. As a West Aussie I am disappointed year after year, its almost like they have forgotten how to win. 2013 is another Ryobi cup season where we have finished last... I have been to three T20 Finals at the WACA, none have been one by the home side (2 BBL finals and one when it was just the state teams). Shaun Marsh is the most gifted batsman int he country, but he can't consistently score runs at shield level. I say to the selectors, give him a go ahead of guys like Bailey and Finch, who are one day specialists. We have some good young paceman and tweakers, but bowling is only one half of cricket. The team is also very old (North, Katich and Voges mid 30's).There is no young batsman that is knocking on the door. I think WA have to take a leaf out of NSW book and just play kids and see who is actually good enough to play at this level. Tough times ahead i fear.
Josie
Guest
There needs to be consistency in selection and a development of culture that gets back to decent values and team work. Ex players may not always be the best coaches, you need to have great people managers and a willingness to create a supportive, competitive and value driven culture. My pick for next Australian coach is Ric Charlesworth- completely out of left field but he has success with all the attributes needed to develop a performance and value- based culture rather than an entitlement and ego- driven culture!
Rellum
Roar Guru
A lot of old state teams would beat the current test team. The 94/95 QLD team would easily beat the current test team.
JGK
Roar Guru
Yes and he was an evil genius scientist of a race of beings called the Kaled from the planet Karo.
davros
Guest
maybe..... but I still don't know what a Kaled scientist from Karo is ? Davros was the leader of the daleks on DR Who
Aakash bhat
Guest
Khwaja on a roll 87 off 92 balls
david
Guest
Some good points Ryan. There are definitely too many district teams in Perth (16). It should be reduced to 12 but that's a lot easier said than done. Junior coaching is a problem which the WACA should be putting money into - at district level, not just Emerging Warriors. All junior district coaches (13's, 14's, 15's and 17's) should be paid via the WACA. No good having Dad's do it and getting their son to bat at 3 and open the bowling week after week. I think Langer will be good for the state side but he'll need a little time. We should stop importing fast bowlers from the East and start developing a few of our own - the kids see these guys come in and think "why bother". Coniglio is playing for GWS and would have been in the state cricket team by now - I'm sure there are others who have been lost to AFL. WACA needs to get onto these talented kids before AFL grabs them (and pay them). The WACA needs to also start doing some promotion within the junior community clubs - we see nothing from them, no players, no support. I was involved with a junior footy club and we often had AFL players at training - never seen one Warrior at our cricket training! Lots more ideas but I'm starting to rant.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Yeah pretty awful stuff. Marsh is doing his best to help add some respectability...he's in blazing form in the Ryobi Cup so far...270 runs at 90. He's a fantastic one-day player.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Haha that was a strange ol' rant davros
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
And that's not out of the realms of possibility given Langer rates Agar's batting so highly he may play him as an all-rounder.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Being a big name doesn't hurt when it comes to getting those gigs.
JGK
Roar Guru
Looks like WA cricket still has a way to go - currently 5/65 against Queensland with Marsh scoring 43 of those.
Roger
Guest
Not to mention the two spinners in Agar & Beer are also lefties. Imagine an attack of 5 lefties haha wow
davros
Guest
moody my fav commentator...prodigious cricket brain and insights into the game ...also resists putting shit on lesser players ...has a bit of style and class ....bj not bad too ...smooth as duck sht ...but classy
davros
Guest
yep take a look at what Chuck has engineered for the S oz gde scene
davros
Guest
oh now I get it ...god - Good ha ha
davros
Guest
I used to be davos....but I must have said something a bit contraversial along the line...and my posts were being blocked on this site...and anyway Davos is a bit pussie ..I thought maybe something with a harder edge...and a couple of younger cooler guys in the surf twisted Davos to davros...which sounded tougher ...you know a bit dalek leader type thing ...although he was really just a mushie brain in a tin can...sorry but the ref to Skaro and Kaled elude me im guessing star trek or some other ...or maybe it is Dr Who ... any way who cares.....I cant quite follow ...if your putting s..t on me ....oh well im a big boy :)
James P
Guest
Which, in my mind, suggests that Coyle is a really good coach who needs to be better used by Australian cricket. He is currently national programme manager of fielding and wicketkeeping and assistant coach of the Australian womens team. I find it stunning that Lehmann gets the big job and Coyle gets a third tier job
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
No idea yet Buckers