Extraordinary depth in batting talent will be of huge benefit to the
Warriors as they chase a third first-class title in four seasons. But for
all of the brilliance that they possess in the likes of Justin Langer,
Damien Martyn, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Ryan Campbell, Murray Goodwin
and Tom Moody, they will have to confront two significant (and
interrelated) obstacles if that prize is to be claimed. The first is a
suspicion that they are going to find it difficult to capture twenty
opposition wickets on a consistent basis. The second is the reality that
the wicket square at their home ground in Perth is not quite the haven for
pacemen that it once was. Indeed, as staggering as the claim might sound,
it even appears to have become more suited to batsmen than bowlers in
recent times.
As difficult as the task before them will accordingly be, the keys to the
Warriors' performance this year are almost certain to be Brad Williams,
Matthew Nicholson, Sean Cary and Brendon Julian. As the search continues
for a permanent front-line spinner around them, the true measure of Western
Australia's success will be reflected in how well this quartet is able to
lead the team's pace division. In his first year in the West, Williams was
inspirational last season. His fifty first-class wickets held the team
together through a dismal first half of the summer, and then buttressed a
stunning late revival which lifted it into third place by season's end.
The big question is to what extent the rest of the attack can join in and
help him. Doubts persist over Julian's ability to bowl long spells this
summer; injury precluded him from operating in much more than occasional
bursts at the bowling crease in 1999-2000 and he has played purely as a
specialist batsman in Western Australia's practice matches during the last
month. Similarly, Nicholson hasn't always enjoyed the greatest run of
fortune with injury - and he was limited to a total of just six first-class
appearances in 1999-2000. In and out of the side over recent summers, the
underrated Cary will also be hoping for a more fulfilling season. They are
three fine cricketers and have the potential to help take the Warriors a
long way; only time will tell, though, exactly how far the journey will
extend.
If the requisite work is performed by the bowlers, then there will be no
greater way to cap the Warriors' success in luring Goodwin back from
Zimbabwe after a four year sojourn. Nor to complement the long overdue
return of Moody following a debilitating run with a back complaint. While
offset to an extent by the loss of Rob Baker to the effects of Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome, the additions of these two vastly experienced and
professional campaigners put the seal for the Warriors on one of the most
complete batting line-ups seen at state level for a long time.
The key player: Brad Williams. For Western Australia to be successful, it
is crucial that its bowling attack acquits itself successfully this summer.
No man shapes as being more important in this sense than the tearaway
speedster, whose total of fifty-six first-class and one-day scalps last
season represented a brilliant return in his first year in Perth.
The up and comer: Like their counterparts in Victoria, the Western
Australians bring to the 2000-01 summer a very experienced squad.
Opportunities for young players to make a mark will therefore be few and
far between. If given the opportunity, though, Michael Dighton (a tall,
elegant, right handed batsman) might be the one on whom to fix an eye.
The draw: Lessons will clearly need to be learnt from the team's decidedly
slow start last season given that it plays as many as ten games before
Christmas this time around. The hectic early run of games is the most
noticeable feature of the Warriors' schedule although it should be said
that the burst of five home games (out of six) that it enjoys between
mid-December and late January also shapes as a defining period of the
summer.
Predicted Pura Cup finishing position: 3rd
Predicted Mercantile Mutual Cup finishing position: 2nd
