Western Australia‘s cricket team has secured their status as the undisputed domestic powerhouse in the sport, winning another treble of domestic titles and their sixth straight championship. The team’s magical formula for success has left many in awe, with talk of a dynasty unavoidable. While the hierarchy at the WACA prefer a measured approach, their players have clearly absorbed this philosophy and executed it to perfection on the pitch. The team’s recent nine-wicket victory over Victoria in the final capped off an impressive season, leaving even their opponents wondering where they rank in the sport’s history. Victoria coach Chris Rogers, who has faced Western Australia in consecutive unsuccessful Shield finals, is well placed to judge the team’s standing and impact on the sport.
During the late 1990s, Chris Rogers was tearing up the ranks of Western Australian cricket. He honed his skills alongside some of the game’s greats, including Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer, and Tom Moody. Rogers sees parallels between his time on the team and the current squad, who are led by emerging stars Teague Wyllie and Aaron Hardie. Fresh off back-to-back Shield triumphs, this group of players has Rogers excited about their potential. “They’ve got a great squad and amazing depth,” he says. With so much talent at their disposal, it’s no wonder that Rogers believes this current team could match or even surpass the success of his legendary predecessors.
Western Australia’s domination in the Sheffield Shield competition over the years has been nothing short of impressive. However, their eventual comprehensive triumph masks the periods where they were pushed to their limits by emerging teams like Victoria. In one such encounter, WA found themselves in a precarious position against a powerful Victoria attack, having slumped to 4 for 53 in their first innings in reply to the opposition’s 195. But WA, true to their form, proved decisive in key moments, courtesy of veteran Ashton Turner‘s game-changing century. Turner’s calm and composed innings, accompanied by vital partnerships with Hardie, Philippe, and Paris, demoralized Victoria, who could never recover. This match proved that even the strongest teams can be pushed to their limits on any given day.
Paris and Turner’s performance in the recent cricket match was a testament to their ability to handle pressure. According to Paris, the team had been emphasizing the importance of “walking towards the pressure” and that’s exactly what they did. Despite the opposing team’s relentless pressure, the pair managed to hold their ground and even put up an impressive 105-run partnership. This not only helped their team gain the lead but also made it incredibly difficult for the other team to bounce back. It’s worth noting that this success wasn’t just due to individual brilliance but also the team’s admirable continuity and reliance on local talent.
The Western Australian cricket team is not just a group of talented athletes, they are a family. As Paris explains, many of the players have been playing together or against each other since they were just young kids starting out in Under 9s and 10s. This shared history and understanding of one another as both cricketers and people is what truly sets this team apart. When they’re on the road for long periods throughout the season, this closeness becomes even more important. It’s no wonder, then, that when Turner achieved his first Shield century in over five years, the emotions were raw and overflowing from his supportive teammates in the dressing room. This is a team that celebrates each other’s successes as if they were their own.
Bancroft’s words echo the pride and joy felt by the entire team upon seeing a hundred scored by AT. This season has been a fruitful one, with three titles under their belt. However, the journey leading up to this point has been a challenging one for AT in red-ball cricket. On day two of the game, AT reminded himself to be brave and take the game on, and this mindset certainly paid off. The sense of camaraderie displayed among the teammates is something that was sorely missing during the dark days of WA cricket in the 2000s. The team’s ill-discipline and lack of silverware led to a much-needed coaching recruitment in the form of Langer in 2012. The current positive atmosphere is a testament to the hard work and effort that has gone into rebuilding the team’s reputation.
The Western Australian cricket team has experienced a remarkable turnaround in recent years, according to team captain, Jason Paris. He credits this success to the influence of JL, who instilled within the players the values of professionalism and dedication to their sport. The team’s many Shield titles are a testament to the hard work and commitment of this special group of athletes. While the players remained humble in their victory, the excitement was palpable from the terraces, where fans savoured the successes of this new golden era. As Bancroft aptly put it, the challenge now is to maintain this consistency in the face of future competitions.
