Fresh Faces Set For MCG Challenge

Mahli Beardman, Keaton Critchell, Sam Fanning, Matt Spoors and Andrew Tye have been included in the 13-player squad, with victory critical to keeping WA’s slim title hopes alive.  

If selected, the match presents an opportunity for the inexperienced quartet of Beardman (one game), Critchell (one), Fanning (one) and Spoors (yet to debut) to show their wares at one of global cricket’s most storied venues.

Exciting teenager Beardman, wily veteran Tye and seam-bowling allrounder Critchell form part of a stacked pace battery that also includes Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson and Bryce Jackson.

Dashing left-hander Fanning compiled a composed half-century during WA’s impressive Sheffield Shield win against Tasmania last week, while wrist-spinner Spoors has been prolific for Scarborough.

Skipper Ashton Turner, spin-bowling allrounders Ashton Agar and D’Arcy Short, and batters Cameron Bancroft and Hilton Cartwright round out the squad.

Interim Australia T20 captain Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly (injured hand), Aaron Hardie (Australia T20) and Joel Paris (managed) make way from the squad.

WA currently sits sixth on the ODC table with one win from four matches.

Wednesday’s game – broadcast on Foxtel, Kayo and Cricket.com.au – will begin at 7:05AM, WA time.

WA squad for ODC Game Five: Ashton Turner ©, Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Mahli Beardman, Hilton Cartwright, Keaton Critchell, Sam Fanning, Bryce Jackson, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Matthew Spoors, Andrew Tye

In: Mahli Beardman, Keaton Critchell, Sam Fanning, Matt Spoors, Andrew Tye

Out: Cooper Connolly (hand), Aaron Hardie (Australia T20), Josh Inglis (Australia T20), Joel Paris (managed)