Experience is king in Sheffield Shield cricket, but Western Australia will be aiming to buck the trend when they take on NSW in this season’s decider at Manuka Oval, starting on Friday.
The Warriors could enter the match with as many as six players aged 21 or younger, with coach Justin Langer resisting the urge to add in-form 28-year-old opener Alex Malcolm to the mix.
Malcolm has plundered three consecutive centuries in club ranks, taking his first grade season tally to 1075 runs at an average of 71.7.
But with 22-year-old Mitch Marsh ready to return from a side strain as a specialist batsman, Malcolm couldn’t squeeze his way into the Warriors’ 14-man squad in what would have been a dream Shield debut.
Adding to the youthful trend is 23-year-old paceman Jason Behrendorff, who has snared 18 wickets in his past three Shield games.
Inexperienced sides usually get blown away in Shield ranks.
But WA have punched above their weight all summer, with veterans Marcus North, Adam Voges and Michael Hogan in sparkling touch.
WA were lucky to scrape into the final after losing their past two games.
Langer admits his young side are weary after a long season, but he hopes they can muster one final effort and end the Warriors’ 15-year Shield title drought.
“If you look back at the history of Shield cricket, especially over the last 15 years, it’s usually the experience that gets people over the line,” Langer said.
“But having said that, our young guys have found a way to win throughout the year.
“It’s just the survival of the fittest. With the hectic schedule we’ve had all year, all the bowlers are quite weary, and some of our batters are mentally weary.
“We’ve got to get up for one more week. I’m hoping that all the hard work we’ve done since last May is going to count for something.”
NSW will be without Test captain Michael Clarke (shoulder) and paceman Doug Bollinger (World Cup).
But star all-rounder Moises Henriques will return to the side.
NSW squad: Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Ryan Carters, Trent Copeland, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Steve O’Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Ben Rohrer, Gurinder Sandhu WA squad: Adam Voges (capt), Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Ryan Duffield, Marcus Harris, Michael Hogan, Simon Mackin, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Nathan Rimmington, Ashton Turner, Sam Whiteman.