Exciting Quartet Joins WA Men's List For 2025-26

The squad comprises five players on Cricket Australia deals, 20 on the primary list and four rookies.  

Wicketkeeper-batter Joel Curtis earned his first state contract after playing eight of WA’s 10 Shield matches last season, tallying 21 dismissals (19 catches, two stumpings) and scoring 295 runs.  

Deputising behind the stumps for Australia star Josh Inglis, the 25-year-old showed class, composure and patience when compiling an unbeaten 119 from 239 deliveries against Victoria at the CitiPower Centre.  

Curtis, who made his One-Day Cup (ODC) debut last season, won the prestigious Olly Cooley Medal as WA Premier Cricket’s fairest and best player in 2024-25, hammering six centuries and 972 runs at 81 for Perth.  

Teenagers Jordan Quiggin, Albert Esterhuysen and Simon Budge join Curtis on the contract list, having starred in WA’s triumphant campaign at the Cricket Australia Under-19 National Championships in December.

Quiggin, 19, was the tournament’s standout bowler with 18 wickets at 8.17, taking 6-39 to dismantle hosts South Australia in the semifinal. The tall left-armer notched up a further 20 scalps at 20.25 for Joondalup’s First Grade team.  

Fellow fast bowler Esterhuysen, 18, took eight wickets at 14.13 during the National Championships, played two games for WA’s second XI, and finished second on Rockingham-Mandurah's First Grade wicket-taking list (23 wickets at 23).

WA Under-19 captain Budge, meanwhile, was the most prolific batter at the National Championships with 346 runs at 57.67, highlighted by back-to-back centuries against Tasmania (153 from 132) and South Australia (111 from 133).  

Budge, who turns 18 in July, played seven First Grade games for Melville and featured twice for WA’s second XI alongside Esterhuysen.

Like Curtis, Budge was a founding member of the Rod Marsh Wicketkeeping Academy.  

He will initially follow a training program that allows him to balance professional cricket with his Year 12 studies.  

Impressive young fast bowler Mahli Beardman has been elevated onto the senior list after two seasons as a rookie.

D’Arcy Short, Josh Vernon, Hamish McKenzie and Sam Greer were not offered contracts for 2025-26, while 2023-24 Sheffield Shield champion Charlie Stobo has returned to his native state of New South Wales.

Short departs with four ODC titles (2017-18, 2019-20, 2021-22 and 2023-24) and a Sheffield Shield championship (2023-24) to his name.

His famous 257 from 148 deliveries against Queensland in 2018 remains the highest score in Australian ODC history, while Short's tally of 23 sixes that day is comfortably the most by any individual in the domestic 50-over competition.  

WA’s men will return from leave on Monday 19 May.

WA MEN'S LIST FOR 2025-26

Cricket Australia: Cameron Green, Mitch Marsh, Lance Morris, Josh Inglis, Jhye Richardson.

State: Cameron Bancroft, Mahli Beardman, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Keaton Critchell, Joel Curtis (new), Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Aaron Hardie, Liam Haskett, Baxter Holt, Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Joel Paris, Corey Rocchiccioli, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman, Teague Wyllie. 

Rookie: Simon Budge (new), Albert Esterhuysen (new), Jordan Quiggin (new), Corey Wasley. 

Quotes attributable to WA Cricket General Manager – High Performance Cricket and Elite Teams, Kade Harvey:  

“Stability has been a large factor in the success of this group, so we’re glad to retain the core of our squad.  

“Joel Curtis deserves his first full contract after showing promise in the Sheffield Shield and One-Day Cup last season, to go with his brilliant form for Perth in WA Premier Cricket.  

“We’re looking forward to working with two exciting young fast bowlers in Jordan and Albert, who played a big role in our Under-19 National Championships win.  

“Simon also showed a lot during that tournament as a wicketkeeper-batter with a bright future.

“We would like to thank D’Arcy, Charlie, Josh, Hamish and Sam for the considerable contributions they made to WA Cricket and wish them well with their future endeavours. 

“D'Arcy leaves his legacy as a Sheffield Shield champion and four-time One-Day Cup champion, as well as a wonderful advocate for our Aboriginal programs.”

Quotes attributable to WA Men’s Head Coach, Adam Voges:

“It's always exciting to get fresh faces into the program, and we look forward to seeing how Jordan, Albert and Simon develop as full-time cricketers.  

“Joel Curtis earned his opportunities last season through his outstanding performances in Premier Cricket and deserves his spot on the list.

“Mahli Beardman’s elevation from a rookie to the main list shows that we rate him highly.

“We have a lot of faith in this group of players. Clearly, last season did not pan out the way we wanted, but we’re confident we have the experience, talent and drive to bounce back quickly.”