WA WA Nee

MC Gregor's own WA are off to handy little start in the shield.

Up against a team of 11 future Australian players, WA won the toss and managed to handily win the first innings (despite a brutal batting display by Bracken and some frustrating innings from the WA bats). More importantly, WA overcame their fear of gingas and overcame a Thornley-led comeback in the second innings to dismiss the future test XI for 310. leaving just a tick over 220 to get.

At 0/50 at stumps on day 3, it looked a formality. And yet the final day featured a number of outrageous surprises. Firstly, WA DIDN'T collapse! But not only that, they scored at a brisk rate and their best two young bats LIVED UP TO EXPECTATIONS. And in the biggest surprise of all, WA won with a leg in the air.

Bunch of Poms scored at a run a ball to reach a brutal 70-odd, while His Seanness was the picture of control, moving to a regal 70-odd not out. Here's hoping the don't go out to drink to their success!

However, the story of the match was not the batting. The story was Magoffin (or McMuffin as The Balls prefer to call him). This young man has been WA's most consistant bowler for the last several seasons, and this game may well be his turning point. With match figures of 10/102 (including a satanic 6/66 in the second innings), McMuffin has finally put his name first and foremost in the minds of Australian selectors and other second-rate sports 'experts'.

He is a bowling metronome, and does a fair bit with the pill. He also has had a bit of success with Worcester and has put the fear of gold into the Sri Lankans after taking 4/14 against them in the last Northern season. Start talking about him now. Drop him into conversation, and make yourself look smarter. The Balls likes him.