Bancroft included in WA contract list

Reigning JLT One-Day Cup champions Western Australia have continued to back their successful production line in naming their 2018-19 contract list, while also including suspended Test batsman Cameron Bancroft.

The Warriors 18-man squad includes promising trio Liam Guthrie (21), Josh Philippe (20) and Matthew Kelly (23), all of whom made their first-class debuts in last summer's Sheffield Shield, during a period in which the Warriors squad was ravaged by injuries and missing a number of players on international duties.

Batsman Jake Carder, 22, is a Cricket Australia XI rep and another promising youngster who has been elevated from the rookie list to the state list, while Tim David, Aaron Hardie and Lance Morris have been given rookie contracts for the first time.

Bancroft will be eligible to resume playing with WA at the completion of his nine-month suspension for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town.

The 25-year-old is permitted to train with the squad in the intervening period.  

"This year's Warriors squad is a great mix of players with international experience combined with some of Australia's most exciting young talent,” said WACA general manager for high performance, Ben Oliver.

"Six players earning Cricket Australia contracts has enabled the selectors to further reward and support local WA players.

"Liam and Josh both made their Sheffield Shield debuts last season and will further strengthen our pace bowling and batting respectively.

"It is also great to see Tim, Aaron and Lance earn their first rookie contracts through performances in Premier Cricket and national pathway competitions.

"We also look forward to welcoming a number of key players back from long-term injuries for what will hopefully be another very good season for WA cricket."

The Warriors will be without veteran batsman Michael Klinger, who retired at the conclusion of last season, while the departure of head coach Justin Langer to the equivalent national role leaves a vacancy in that position.

Meanwhile, the Western Fury have made two changes to their 14-player contract list for the 2018-19 Women's National Cricket League season after making the final of the 2017-18 competition.

Pace bowler Ashlee King has won a state contract for the first time while former Victoria player Kath Hempenstall has made the move west.

King was the Perth Scorcher's Under 18 rookie in WBBL|03, while the experienced Hempenstall returns after last playing domestic cricket for Melbourne Stars in early 2016.

"We are really happy with this season's Fury list," Western Fury coach Lisa Keightley said.

"We've got another strong squad to build on last year, with most of our players becoming more experienced.  

"Ashlee is a pace bowler from Melville Cricket Club who has represented WA at underage level and was the Perth Scorchers' WBBL|03 U18 Rookie.

"We were impressed with her performances last season and seam bowling is a skillset that we need to grow in our squad.

"Kath is an experienced pace bowler who has previously represented Victoria and the Melbourne Stars, so she brings experience and maturity to our bowling group."

Katie Hartshorn has taken a break from domestic cricket in 2018-19, while Rebecca West was not offered a state contract.

Western Australia contract list 2018-19: Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, William Bosisto, Jake Carder, Hilton Cartwright, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Cameron Green, Liam Guthrie, Joshua Inglis, Matthew Kelly, Simon Mackin, David Moody, Joel Paris, Josh Philippe, D'Arcy Short, Ashton Turner, Jonathan Wells, Sam Whiteman. Rookie contracts: Alex Bevilaqua, Tim David, Aaron Hardie, Clint Hinchliffe, Lance Morris, Matthew Spoors. Cricket Australia contracted players: Ashton Agar, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.

Western Fury contracted list 2018-19: Megan Banting, Melissa Cameron, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Sheldyn Cooper, Bhavisha Devchand, Amy Edgar, Heather Graham, Kath Hempenstall, Ashlee King, Emma King, Tanaele Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Emily Smith. Cricket Australia contracted players: Nicole Bolton, Elyse Villani.