Two rising stars have been called up to WA’s extended side for the 2023-24 Marsh Sheffield Shield Final against Tasmania, starting Thursday at the WACA Ground.
Squad Confirmed For Sheffield Shield Final
Hard-edged right-hander Teague Wyllie and dynamic allrounder Cooper Connolly feature in the 14-player squad, having impressed for their WA Premier Cricket teams in recent weeks.
Wyllie struck important centuries in two of his last three innings for Rockingham-Mandurah, compiling 137 against Bayswater-Morley before an unbeaten 141 versus Joondalup last month.
Already a two-time Sheffield Shield champion, the 19-year-old reinforced his hunger to occupy the crease by tallying 94 (251 deliveries) against a full-strength Victorian attack earlier in the season.
Meantime, Scarborough captain Connolly took down Fremantle with an unbeaten 189-ball 181, thumping nine fours and 11 sixes during the explosive knock.
He backed up that innings with 67 from 76 versus University, and showed promising form for Perth Scorchers and WA’s title-winning Marsh One-Day Cup team.
The 20-year-old will be on First Class debut if selected.
Prolific opener Cameron Bancroft will miss the final with concussion after a cycling accident on Sunday, while uncapped allrounder Keaton Critchell has been omitted.
WA will target a third consecutive Sheffield Shield championship when the five-day contest begins, having celebrated their Marsh Cup three-peat last month.
Victory would see the WA become the first team in Australian cricketing history to win three consecutive Shield and One-Day Cup titles at the same time.
The only previous Shield decider between WA and Tasmania took place at the WACA Ground in 1997-98, resulting in the hosts winning by seven wickets.
Tickets to the final are available the general public via Ticketmaster, with prices starting from $5.
WA Marsh Sheffield Shield Squad – Final
Sam Whiteman – captain
Ashton Agar
Hilton Cartwright
Cooper Connolly
Cameron Gannon
Jayden Goodwin
Aaron Hardie
Liam Haskett
Josh Inglis
Joel Paris
Corey Rocchiccioli
D'Arcy Short
Charlie Stobo
Teague Wyllie
IN: Cooper Connolly, Teague Wyllie
OUT: Cameron Bancroft (concussion), Keaton Critchell (omitted)
MATCH DETAILS
Marsh Sheffield Shield Final
WA v TAS
Thursday 21 - Monday 25 March. First ball 10:00AM, WST.
WACA Ground, Perth
Live: Fox, Kayo, Cricket.com.au, ABC Digital, 91.3 SportFM