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JLT Cup squad preview: WA

Mitch Marsh returns to lead a squad featuring a mix of experience and promising young talent

The squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Ashton Turner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Will Bosisto, Josh Inglis, Matt Kelly, Michael Klinger, Simon Mackin, Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Jhye Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Andrew Tye, Jonathan Wells

Possible Starting XI: Shaun Marsh, Michael Klinger, Cameron Bancroft, Mitch Marsh (c), Ashton Turner, D‘Arcy Short, Josh Inglis (wk), Andrew Tye, Simon Mackin, David Moody, Jhye Richardson

Who they're missing: Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Marcus Stoinis are all involved in Australia's current limited-overs tour of India, while wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman is on the long-term injury list after undergoing finger surgery. However, the Warriors still have a wealth of experience in new captain Mitchell Marsh and experienced batting stars Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger. And the Warriors look to be in for a mid-tournament boost with Cartwright and Stoinis only part of the Australian squad for the ODI series which wraps up on October 1, although news of Agar's broken finger mean the allrounder's availability for the start of the domestic summer is under a cloud. The T20I series runs until October 13, meaning Behrendorff and Coulter-Nile could also provide a timely injection of pace for the finals should the Warriors make the top three.

The inside word with Warriors skipper Mitch Marsh: "This squad has been building for a number of years now, we’ve been together for about five years and the young guys are really improving. I think the core group we’ve got now has got enough experience to really go on and do something special. We’ve been lucky enough with the WACA staff to be able to train on turf a lot more this winter so hopefully that stands us in good stead. It’s always hard to single out a couple of players (to impress) but we’ve got a couple of young guys who are really exciting. We’ve had a taste of Jhye Richardson in the Big Bash especially in last year’s final, all I can say about him is he bowls genuinely fast and he has some pretty special skills not many people have seen yet.”

Mitch Marsh blasts 70 off just 41 balls

The talking point: Mitch Marsh is set to end his long stint on the sidelines when he returns to competitive cricket as Western Australia captain. Marsh has been sidelined because of a shoulder injury since March, when he was sent home from Australia’s Test tour of India after suffering a recurrence of the complaint. He appears likely to play as a batsman only in the early stages of the summer, and insists he is not getting distracted about the possibility of a recall to Australia’s Test team, but there will be plenty of people keeping a close eye on his progress with questions remaining around who will fill the No.6 spot against England for the Magellan Ashes and beyond.

The 2016 result: The Warriors took on NSW in their final group match in what was a virtual play-off for third spot and a place in the elimination final. But it did not go to plan for Western Australia – despite half-centuries to Adam Voges and Cameron Bancroft, the Warriors were bowled out for 207 in 43.2 overs. The Blues never look troubled in their chase, as a 172-run opening stand from Daniel Hughes and Ed Cowan laying the foundations of an eight-wicket win, consigning the Warriors to fourth spot.

Extended Highlights: Blues thrash WA

The young gun: Ashton Turner has been named Warriors’ vice-captain for the 2017-18 season and will be determined to continue what was a successful end to last summer, where his strong KFC BBL form resulted in a call-up to the Australian T20 squad to play Sri Lanka. The allrounder then ended his Sheffield Shield season with back-to-back half-centuries and having played just three domestic one-day games last summer, he’ll be eager to make an impact particularly early in the tournament when the likes of fellow allrounders Hilton Cartwright, Ashton Agar and Marcus Stoinis are absent on international duties.

Turner strokes 84 to continue fine summer

The pressure on: Shaun Marsh insists he hasn't given up on fighting his way back into the Australian Test side, and having laid the foundations with a strong campaign English county stint with Yorkshire, the 33-year-old will be hoping to carry that form into the JLT Cup. Marsh was dropped for Australia's Test squad for a two-match tour of Bangladesh after playing all four Border-Gavaskar Tests in India. His domestic T20 season for the Vikings reaped 289 runs at 41.28 in 11 matches, while he ended the four-day season on a high note, scoring 78 and 125no against Surrey.

The fixtures

September 29 v New South Wales, WACA Ground, Perth

October 1 v Victoria, WACA Ground, Perth

October 7 v Tasmania, WACA Ground, Perth

October 11 v Queensland, Drummoyne Oval, Sydney

October 15 v Western Australia, Drummoyne Oval, Sydney

October 17 v Cricket Australia XI, North Sydney Oval, Sydney