A year and a week is a long time in cricket ....

2012-13 Warriors Squad & Rookies Announced

4 July 2012
The Western Australian Cricket Association has named a 17-man Warriors squad and five rookies for the 2012-13 interstate season.

Tasmanian wicket-keeper Tom Triffitt and Victorian left-arm spinner Ashton Agar have been recruited from interstate, while batsman Tom Beaton and quicks Jason Behrendorff and Matt Dixon have been upgraded to a full contract from the rookie deals they held in 2011-12.

There are four new faces among the Warriors' rookie contracted players. Wicket-keepers Cameron Bancroft (Willetton) and Sam Whiteman (Rockingham-Mandurah) join Fremantle all-rounder Ashton Turner and Claremont-Nedlands batsman Will Bosisto.

Departures from the 2011-12 Warriors squad and rookie list are the retired Mark Cameron and Brad Knowles, along with Martin Paskal, Luke Pomersbach, Wes Robinson, Luke Ronchi and Michael Johnson.

Agar (pictured) is one of the country's most promising spin bowlers and was named yesterday in Australia's squad for next month's ICC Under 19 World Cup in Queensland, where he will be joined by Bancroft, Paris, Turner and Bosisto.

Warriors Head Coach Lachlan Stevens said: "We've aimed to assemble a strong group of core youngsters, with five current Australian Under 19 players combined with graduates from the 2010 World Cup group in Mitch Marsh, Tom Beaton and Tom Triffitt, as well as Tim Armstrong, who is in our newly-created Development Squad.

"Ashton Agar has been recruited with a view to increasing our spin bowling options and he will team up with Michael Beer. All-rounder Ashton Turner is also a promising spin option and the competition for spots between that trio will be similar to what is being created with our three wicket-keepers, and that's what we are after.

"Essentially we are hoping our senior players can create a new legacy for the Warriors brand by being competitive with the best sides in Australia and showing leadership with their on and off field responsibilities.”

Meanwhile a 10-man Development Squad has also been released, which is a new initiative designed to provide talented players sitting just outside the Warriors contract list with an opportunity to be part of the WACA's elite program.

The squad will be led by recently-appointed WACA Development Coach Geoff Marsh, and includes former Warriors squad members Jake Fawcett, Drew Porter and Luke Towers, University's Cricket Superstar runner-up David Vernon, and ex-ACT and Tasmanian batsman John Rogers.

WACA Cricket Manager Ben Oliver said: "The Development Squad will work closely with the Warriors' playing group and coaching staff throughout the season, and we would be expecting some of those players to step up and grab the chance at interstate level should an opportunity be presented.

"The aim of the squad is to help players transition from WACA District Cricket to senior interstate competition. We are very fortunate to have Geoff Marsh leading the group with his international playing and coaching experience and detailed understanding of Western Australian cricket.”

WARRIORS 2012-13 SQUAD

Full Contracts:

Ashton Agar, Tom Beaton, Michael Beer, Jason Behrendorff, Travis Birt, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Davis, Matthew Dixon, Ryan Duffield, Marcus Harris, Michael Hogan, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Nathan Rimmington, Tom Triffitt, Adam Voges.

Rookie Contracts:

Cameron Bancroft, William Bosisto, Joel Paris, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman.

Cricket Australia Contracts:

Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson.

WACA DEVELOPMENT SQUAD

Tim Armstrong, Stephen Ball, Hilton Cartwright, Ryan Done, Jake Fawcett, Simon Mackin, Drew Porter, John Rogers, Luke Towers, David Vernon.

Warriors coach Justin Langer has recalled the passion he saw flow from a 15-year-old Ashton Agar, when the then-net bowler snared the practise wicket of Australian cricket legend and former national captain Ricky Ponting.

Agar, who only made his Bupa Sheffield Shield debut in February, last night completed his rapid rise with selection for Australia in the opening Ashes Test against England at Trent Bridge.

Agar bowled seven overs on the first day of his debut Test, with one maiden and 0-24.

The off-spinner was stunning with both bat and ball in his five games of first-class domestic cricket, capturing 19 wickets and notching two half-centuries.

That form continued in his recent showing in Australia A’s tour of the British Isles, in which he took a total of six wickets and made a half-century.

Agar was expected to join Warriors teammates Shaun and Mitch Marsh and Nathan Coulter-Nile in the national second XI’s tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa later this month, but new Australia coach Darren Lehmann had other plans.

Agar last year moved from Victoria to join the Warriors as a depth-player, before seizing an opportunity created by injury to cement a place in the state side.

Langer said it had been a big move for such a young player, but one that had paid dividends.

"I remember seeing him as a 15 or 16-year-old, he bowled to Ricky Ponting in the nets (in the lead-up to) a Boxing Day Test,” Langer said.

"I always remember that image; he got Ricky Ponting out in the nets and he turned around and he's given it the, 'Yes'.

"He wasn't being a smart-aleck, he just could not believe it and was pumped that he got Ricky Ponting out.

"You imagine a 15-year-old, bowling to Ponting and that emotion he showed; he was always on the radar.

"It was a great recruitment by people in West Australian cricket and we're thrilled to have him here.”

Langer labelled Agar’s selection as a "great story”, but one that came as no surprise to the Warriors coach.

"I wasn't surprised, I think he's a fantastic young talent,” Langer said.

"He's so natural in everything he does - he showed he can handle first-class cricket - and he's done well.

"It's a great story and the thing I like about him is not only his cricket ability - he can bat, he can field and obviously bowl - but he's a fantastic kid.

"He's got a great family and I know how happy and proud his family are.”

Langer said, when Agar called him in the lead-up to yesterday’s opening Test, both coach and player struggled to contain their excitement.

"I actually said to him, 'Are you in?' and he went quiet for a few seconds and he goes, 'I'm in',” Langer said.

"There was a fair bit of 'whooping' going on and I had to close my office door.

"It was a great moment, it's a great moment for any young kid, particularly for a guy like Ashton Agar; a fantastic person and a really close family.

"To be presented (his Baggy Green) by Glenn McGrath as well, he'd be absolutely pinching himself.

"Not only has he got a Baggy Green cap, but one of his childhood heroes presented it to him, he's playing an Ashes Test Match, lots of build-up.

"He probably won't realise it until after the Test, what a big moment it's been.”

Asked if Agar was Victorian or West Australian, Langer declared, "he’s definitely a West Australian”, making him the youngest WA player to make his Test debut at 19 years and 269 days.

Agar, on debut, was the 12th youngest player to represent Australia and the youngest since an 18-year-old Pat Cummins in 2011.

I reckon he'll end up as a batsman who bowls a bit. KP was 19 when he smashed 70 odd off 50 balls batting at number 9 for KwaZulu Natal against the touring England team in 1999. Five and a half years later he was making his debut for England as a batsman. Agar could be a similar type of cricketer. I've heard he's made hundreds in grade cricket as well, batting at seven, so obviously his batting talent is quite well known. His batting at number 11 in this test can only be put down to Starc and Siddle both having made test 50s. "Young 'un's gotta earn the right to move up the order" type of thing.

expect Agar will return...family is close and proud Vix...his 2 younger brothers are both promising as well - so hopefully the 3 can play for the same team at some stage down the track

have to laugh at the bnlg...even when he eventually dies he will be tugging the coat of the funeral director

contains NLWL quotes ...may induce vomiting

Spoiler:

embee wrote:contains NLWL quotes ...may induce vomiting

Spoiler:

It did.

Well I just replaced all cricket terms with porn/ porn star references and the Langer story read just great.

aye... the bnlg at his bn best

IN A week where Ashton Agar’s achievements in the opening Ashes test enthralled a nation, one young AFL player can lay claim to having once led him onto a cricket field.

Adelaide forward Jarryd Lyons, who kicked four goals in Friday night’s loss to Collingwood, captained Agar in their school cricket team at De La Salle College in Melbourne.

“We went to school together; we actually won a premiership together in year 12 at ACC (Associated Catholic Colleges) level in 2011,” Lyons told AFL.com.au.

“I was his captain in that premiership. I tried to bring him on to bowl whenever I could, and he’d always take wickets for us. I knew he’d be a good player, but I definitely didn’t expect him to get up there that quick.”

The 20-year-old said he was glued to the television during Thursday night’s play, where Agar narrowly failed to become the first No.11 in test cricket history to score a century in a stunning debut. While he knew his former schoolmate was a good player, didn’t expect him to don the baggy green, at least not this early.

“Yeah I stayed up, probably a little too late in the end, but he’s a good young kid and totally deserves all the success,” Lyons said.

“As a young kid he was sort of your run-of-the-mill type player, but when he was about 16-17 years old he started bowling off-spin and started bowling really well.

“He’s always been a good batsman, he used to bat at three, four or five. So when I saw him batting at 11, that was a bit different. But good on him.”

The two also squared off against each other in local cricket, where Lyons played for Omega Cricket Club in Moorabbin while Agar played for McKinnon Cricket Club.

And while Agar can claim bragging rights at the moment for his feats at Trent Bridge, Lyons’ efforts on Friday night should not be ignored.

After being drafted at pick 61 in 2010, the wiry midfielder/forward has managed only eight games since, kicking one goal.

He seized the opportunity given to him by coach Brenton Sanderson on Friday, and will hope to nail down a regular spot in the starting 22.

Lyons said he was “disappointed” with Friday night’s result and felt his side “let themselves down” late in the game.

But at least he’ll take some solace in the fact that he once captained Ashton Agar.