Pre-season preparation goes up a notch for WA teams

Connolly starred with both bat and ball in the 50-over affair, as the side readies itself for the first One-Day Cup match of season 2025-26 against Queensland at Allan Border Field on Sunday 21 September.

The 22-year-old took 2-53 from nine overs in batting-friendly conditions, just nine days after tearing through South Africa in Mackay with 5-22 – his first five-wicket haul in professional cricket.

The stylish left-hander then scored an unbeaten 92 in an encouraging sign for what’s to come this summer.

Fresh from receiving his first WA contract, wicketkeeper-batter Joel Curtis yet again showed his potential with a stunning 116 off 78 balls.

Curtis’ efforts come off the back of a promising 2024-25 season, where he made his One-Day Cup debut and scored a maiden Sheffield Shield century against Victoria at CitiPower Centre.

Teenager Will Malajczuk, who was a member of WA’s Under-19 Male National Championship-winning team last season, compiled a classy 51 off 46 balls.

Teague Wyllie also enjoyed some important time in the middle with a patient 63 off 90 balls.

Fast bowlers Matt Kelly and Joel Paris both bowled eight overs in the match and finished with economical figures of 1-33 and 1-36, respectively.

Earlier in the week, three-time Zoë Goss medallist Amy Edgar played a starring role in the WA Women’s team’s first pre-season hit-out.

Edgar, who enjoyed a successful outing in Australia A’s win over India A in Brisbane last month, made a well-compiled 31 off 39 balls, before taking 3-19 off nine overs with the ball.

Captain Chloe Piparo also spent valuable time in the middle, scoring an impressive 70 off 65 balls, while pace bowler Taneale Peschel (57 from 82) showed her wares with the blade during an entertaining half-century.

Maddie White and Ebony Hoskin joined Edgar in taking multiple wickets, finishing with figures of 3-18 and 2-28, respectively.

Mathilda Carmichael, Maddie Darke and Mikayla Hinkley all made half-centuries in the squad’s second warm-up match of the week.

Both teams featured representatives from WA, Kent Street School and the Indonesian Women’s national team, who were in Perth preparing for the ICC East Asia T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Fiji as part of their MOU with WA Cricket.

The men’s squad finished the week with a T20 game, where Curtis (73 from 49) again played a starring role with the bat, while dynamic opener Sam Fanning (88 from 53) also showed his attacking traits.

Left-arm quick Liam Haskett (2-20 from three overs) was the pick of the bowlers in the T20 match, with Malajczuk (2-21) and Kelly (2-37) also taking multiple wickets.

The WA men’s team will be hoping to bounce back in the upcoming One-Day Cup, having missed the final last season for the first time since 2018-19.

Meantime, WA's Women’s National Cricket League start their season with two 50-over clashes against Queensland at the WACA Ground on Wednesday 24 and Friday 26 September.