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Former Australian Captain Kim Hughes has praised Western Australia’s season-long efforts to come away Sheffield Shield champions for the third straight season.
Tasmania succumbed to the West Aussies by 377 runs during the final session on day four at the WACA Ground, marking a historical milestone for WA.
For the first time, WA has secured a domestic triple-double, winning both Shield and Marsh Cup titles for three consecutive years.
Hughes, who also played Shield Cricket for WA called the occasion and WA’s performance ‘unbelievable.’
“We managed to sneak in there something like 24 or 25 players that played for Western Australia this year. It was just an amazing effort,” he told SportFM
“I thought we won the game with the opening partnership of just over a hundred and Sam Whiteman, just an incredible captain's innings of a century so they got off to great start and then put down over 300 and that set the scene.
“It was poor planning by Tasmania but you only play as well as you're allowed to. The West Australian side never let them back in because their bowling was absolutely was spot on. Plenty of pressure the whole time, and it was just an amazing all-round performance by the West Aussies.”
WA had stellar performances across the board with the ball and bat.
Captain Sam Whiteman knocked 104 runs in the first innings, while Hilton Cartwright and Darcy Short made half-centuries.
With the ball, Cameron Gannon took eight wickets in total, including a five-fa during the second innings, while Corey Roccihoccioli took seven wickets.
With numerous more experienced players out due to injury, international commitments or form, Hughes says these performances are a testament to the side’s depth.
He also commended Ashton Agar for his support of Rocchoccioli.
“It was fantastic to hear Rocchoccioli praise the help and support that he got from Ashton Agar, even though Ashton wasn't picked in the side but being around for a lot longer,” said Hughes.
“That is just an incredible tick for Ashton Agar's character because he's gone from in the Australian cricket side to these last 12-18 months, to what would be a nightmare or disappointment for him.
“For them to be still supportive and all those good positive things as 12th man, it's just a really great reflection on the culture that West Australia cricketers have.”
Reminiscing on his Shield days, Hughes hopes the current WA side can go down the path his side went back in the day.
“I can remember at one stage Western Australia had seven of the 11 players playing for Australia in the WA side,” he said.
“No other side in the history of Shield Cricket, or Australian cricket, has ever had seven. and I say jokingly that we allowed Greg
Chappell, Jeff Thompson, maybe Allan Border, to play with us.
“That was seven test players, not very good Shield players but test players.
“This side doesn't have that, and that's when test cricketers did play in the Shield competition. Things have changed now, so I just hope that some of the current West Australian cricketers can go on down the track.”
IMAGE: cricket.com.au