Round five of the Sheffield Shield gets underway with Western Australia taking in Victoria. Western Warriors coach, Justin Langer, is keen to maintain a focus despite many distractions.
The Warriors and Victoria are currently first and second on the Shield table.
“It’s an interesting time this week because it’s a transition time,” said Justin Langer, Western Warriors coach. “Some of the guys begin to think about BBL. Four of our guys are going off to play for other franchises. There’s some distractions.”
But Langer is concentrated on retaining his side’s momentum: “We showed the guys a great video of the past six months, from pre-season right through to a week ago at the MCG,” Langer continued. “We know it’s more fun winning than losing. We’ve worked so hard to surrender it now.
“The Victorians are a very good side. On paper they’re an outstanding team of people. We’ll keep playing hard and doing what we’ve been doing. If we do that, hopefully we’ll keep getting more good results than not.”
Another obvious distraction for players of both sides has been the death of Phillip Hughes. The squad mentality is keeping the Warriors going insisted Langer.
“We made a really strong commitment to each other,” he said. “If we’re going to play, we’re going to go 100 per cent. Obviously it’s been a horrible week.
“There’s a lot of guys who were close to Hughesy, but we’re determined and committed to showing him respect and showing the game respect and getting back out there and playing as hard as we possibly can.
That’s how we’re brought up to play, that’s how Hughesy would want us to play, so that’s what we’re committed to do.”
The Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers have added David Hussey and Marcus Stoinis to their 13-man squad for the rescheduled match that had been postponed amid the Phillip Hughes grieving process.
Stoinis has recovered from an ankle injury he suffered against South Australia last month, while Chris Rogers is out of the side with national duties. Stoinis has struck 242 runs this season, at an average of 60.50, while Hussey has amassed 233 at 58.25.
If selected, John Hastings will play his 100th match for Victoria. The all-rounder has played 39 first-class, 41 one-day and 19 Twenty20 fixtures for the Bushrangers since debuting in 2007. He has claimed 201 wickets, at an average of 27.22, and struck 1637 runs, at 20.20.
Western Australia: Adam Voges (capt), Shaun Marsh (vc), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Tom Beaton, Jason Behrendorff, Marcus Harris, Michael Hogan, Michael Klinger, Simon Mackin, Nathan Rimmington, Sam Whiteman.
Victoria squad: Matthew Wade (capt), Fawad Ahmed, Scott Boland, Dan Christian, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, John Hastings, David Hussey, Glenn Maxwell, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Tremain, Cameron White
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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