***Sheffield Shield Final, Wozzie Crabs v Tenuous Tozzies, WACA, 21-25 March, 2024***

I can hear the fat lady warming up.

She’s been warbling for a couple of days.

Very unpleasant.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o2wheSpxL94

Target of 600 in one day looming.

didn't even need Day 5

Woo hoo

well done wozzies

Wow, easy in the end for the Sandies.

Congrats to the Wozzies on another title.

Yes. Heartbreaking for Tas - worst two games saved for the end of the year.

Surely even horrie must now concede that there must be much being done right in WA with coaching, selections, and player development. All home grown or at least home developed, too - bar Gannon, I think.

...and Stobo

Whiteman was talking about this being the greatest Wozzie team ever, comparing it with the mid-80s side that won three titles straight.

It seems the early-mid 70's Wozzie side has been forgotten, but they won 5 titles out of 7 between 71-72 and 77-78, with the two interruptions occurring in 73-4 (Victoria, with a stellar season for their batsmen) and 75-6 (silly Sozzies).

Lillee, McKenzie, Massie, Watson, Inverarity, Hughes, Yardley, Edwards R and Edwards W, Marsh, Wood, Gannon, Alderman, Paulsen, Brayshaw, Serjeant, Malone, Laird, Langer R, Clark W, Charlesworth ... just some of the Shield champions of those years, off the top of my head.

In 74/5 Marsh played 8 shield games and Lillee 7 (plus a full test season)

In 23/4 Marsh has played zero shield games and Green 2 ...(Inglis has only played 3 and didnt play a Test )

All very strong teams ...the WACA team of the century has an even spread of players from the 70s and the 80s (plus Barry Shepherd) ....not sure any of the current players would push anyone out of that team ....but that also could point to the current group being a TEAM

lardbucket wrote:Whiteman was talking about this being the greatest Wozzie team ever, comparing it with the mid-80s side that won three titles straight.

It seems the early-mid 70's Wozzie side has been forgotten, but they won 5 titles out of 7 between 71-72 and 77-78, with the two interruptions occurring in 73-4 (Victoria, with a stellar season for their batsmen) and 75-6 (silly Sozzies).

Lillee, McKenzie, Massie, Watson, Inverarity, Hughes, Yardley, Edwards R and Edwards W, Marsh, Wood, Gannon, Alderman, Paulsen, Brayshaw, Serjeant, Malone, Laird, Langer R, Clark W, Charlesworth ... just some of the Shield champions of those years, off the top of my head.

No offense, but Whiteman is talking out his arse. Can't compare to the 70s and even 80s Wozzies sides.

In terms of depth not sure how the 70s and 80s teams would have coped with the players missing through injury or "other" commitments that this team has done

Bangers Kelly Morris and Richardson injured

Marsh Green and Turner at the IPL

Stoinis ...T20 nomad

Skull I suspect you are mostly right but I'm a bit wary about comparing Shield players based on their Test performances. The 80s and 90s WA teams had a lot of occasional or semi-regular Test players who basically owned the inter-State scene.

Embee the depth in WA cricket in the 70s was incredible - WA players replaced WA players in the Test team when WSC happened, and other WA players took their place and they won the Shield in both 76-77 and 77-78 and at least one one-day comp out of the two as well.

Lardy a couple of handy youngish Victorian bowlers had a pretty impressive 73-74 as well - Alan somebody and Ray somebody, they played for the same club team.

true Fred but (from memory) the Vic batting in 73-4 was outstanding ... Sheahan Stackpole Redpath Rose (RIP) Sieler Robinson and Baldry/Scholes all did well.

It was the last hurrah for Stacky, Sheahan, Rose (terrible accident), and Sieler

Scholes was gone before Cup Day and was barely seen again until the season after the WSC reunion. Even after dual tons and dual 150+ partnerships with Rose at the Gabba, Seiler lasted only slightly longer. But yes, the Dad's Army top 3 (and Rose, who sometimes opened when the other three were all available) were outstanding.

Yes, Scholes had a better year in 72-73; I remember him being talked about as a potential WI tourist … by Vic fans and press.

Sheahan retired at 27 after the 73-74 season, scoring 73* and 75* in his last FC game, so he was hardly part of a ‘Dad’s Army’, even if Stacky was in a terminal decline. Redpath was older still but hung in well at Teat level for another three years.

If Sheahan had hung around for one more season he may have denied Wally Edwards his Test career. He prioritised his teaching career, leaving his Test cricket career unfulfilled. Not the first and certainly not the last, but perhaps the last to leave because of a need in the pre-professional era to maintain a job …