Inside the culture which has made Western Australia a powerhouse of domestic cricket

A culture built on fierce loyalty and a ‘west versus the rest’ parochialism that has powered Western Australia’s stunning era of dominance in Australian cricket.

Long before the acrimonious end to his tenure as Australian coach, Justin Langer helped foster a culture in WA cricket that has led to the state holding the Sheffield Shield, Marsh Cup and BBL (Scorchers) titles, as well as providing players en masse for the Australian men’s team.

Indeed, since Langer’s appointment in November, 2012, WA has played in a remarkable six one-day finals (winning five) and featured in seven out of a possible 11 Big Bash League deciders.

“I had two years at the Scorchers myself and then went to play for the Thunder,” WA legend Mike Hussey recalled.

“Telling JL that I was thinking about moving to the Thunder, he just could not get his head around (it).

“Definitely that loyalty and passion towards WA was well entrenched in our system.”

At BBL level, the Scorchers’ dominance is unprecedented.

The franchise boasts the best winning percentage of any domestic T20 team in the world and has won the BBL title an astonishing five times in 12 seasons (and finished runner-up on three other occasions).

That success has been achieved thanks in large part to the loyalty of a squad consisting primarily of domestic talent.

Whereas other BBL franchises have prioritised the signing of big-name internationals, Perth has long held the retention of its local talent in greater esteem.

“I think winning helps,” Scorchers list manager Kade Harvey said.

“But I also think we have got a core group of guys in their late 20s, early 30s, who played a lot of cricket together when they were younger and they came into our environment under JL.

“Justin is a really loyal person … he’s a really loyal, patriotic person. Those guys came into state cricket under his leadership and I think Justin fostered that really well in the formative years.

“When you’ve got a senior group who want to play together, who grow and they have all got kids and wives and … families now, they’ve grown up and they’re maturing. They then create this environment that all of our young guys come into that sort of perpetuates it.

“I have got no doubt the formative piece of that was probably 10 years ago when Justin started, built that bond and connection to WA cricket.”

Take, for example, fringe paceman Matt Kelly.

The 29-year-old has a formidable BBL record, averaging a wicket every 14 balls in 35 matches as a Scorcher.

Kelly played his first BBL match in 2018 and has since averaged seven games a season.

In any other BBL team, he would be considered a spearhead.

At the Scorchers?

He plays back-up to Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye every summer.

“I think opportunity is one thing. Money is obviously another. And it’s clear for some of our guys that that’s not the be all and end all for them,” Harvey said.

“The playing opportunity is probably a little bit different, but I think if you have a look at our group now, over the journey the success we have had the last few years has been off the back of building depth and having a squad mentality.”

That was never more evident than in BBL11 when the Scorchers defied the odds during a season on the road due to Western Australia’s strict Covid-19 border closures.

Teams with far more favourable schedules wilted under the unique constraints and pressures of the pandemic, whereas Perth harnessed the challenge as a galvanising force.

The squad’s fortitude was again tested during BBL13 finals when they overcame the loss of key internationals to withstand Brisbane Heat in a thrilling decider.

All-rounder Ashton Agar and boom quick Lance Morris watched on from India, leaving youngster Cooper Connolly and full-time accountant Nick Hobson to haul the Scorchers’ to a famous win against Brisbane Heat.

“We haven’t always had everyone on the park and I think that’s been our greatest competitive advantage, that we have always had someone available to come in and play a role,” Harvey said.

“(Kelly) is certainly part of that. There’s no doubt he probably could have sourced another deal somewhere else.”

If one soldier falls, replace him with another.

It is the famous ethos that was central to Hawthorn’s era of AFL success under Alastair Clarkson and it rang true for the Scorchers at the start of BBL12 when they were left scrambling to cover for their three international signings.

English opener Phil Salt was injured, Tymal Mills withdrew for personal reasons and Laurie Evans received a doping ban.

Faf du Plessis, Adam Lyth and David Payne arrived to replace the trio, but it was Perth’s local players who inspired their BBL12 triumph.

The sense of loyalty has extended to Perth’s internationals.

Steve Eskinazi and Laurie Evans are playing their second season as Scorchers in BBL13, while players such as Colin Munro, David Willey and Liam Livingstone spent several summers in the west.

“We make no secret of the fact we prioritise our domestic squad and our domestic players and the overseas players add value where they can,” Harvey said.

“Specific roles that we might need for the team at any given moment in time.”

Hussey believes a strong sense of parochialism has been another key to Western Australia’s rise.

“We did see it as us versus the east,” he said. “We’re in the west but everyone else is over there and they’re the enemy.

“Very parochial towards being West Australian, playing for WA.

“In the past, you haven’t seen many players leave because they felt like they belonged here in WA and it was us versus them. Certainly, JL cultivated that as well.”

Leg-spinner Peter Hatzoglou experienced that culture first-hand during his past two seasons as a Scorcher.

Hatzoglou, one of the rare players who has departed Perth – joining Hobart for BBL13 – said being a Scorcher made him “feel a part of the family”.

“You end up with guys who are happy to stay at the club even if they are staying for a discount or they’re staying knowing that they’re not going to play as many games as they probably should,” he said.

“Then you build that sort of foundation, which is clearly in place at the Scorchers, you get great results. Although I have left now, I still regularly speak to the guys, including the coaches.

“Which is probably like, a bit obscure. You wouldn’t normally be leaving a club and still be in touch with so many of the people there. But I still feel a really strong attachment to the Scorchers and the WACA.”

Australian and Scorchers leg-spinner Alana King says that sense of loyalty is not unique to the men’s program.

“I think WA Cricket is really proud of what it’s created over a number of years to make sure people come to the Scorchers,” King said.

A host of familiar names will lead Perth Scorchers’ tilt for a third successive Big Bash title this summer.

Tye, Richardson and Behrendorff will lead the pace bowling arsenal, with all-rounder Aaron Hardie offering seam-bowling support. Ashton Agar will be the frontline spinner with support from two local products — Hamish McKenzie and Connolly.

Then there’s Eskinazi, a county stalwart who was largely unheralded when plucked from WA grade cricket last season, and the formidable middle-order led by Josh Inglis and unflappable skipper Ashton Turner.

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It’s likely by now you’re sensing a theme.

By building their squad around long-term WA cricketers, local talents and adding a smattering of internationals, Perth Scorchers — and Western Australian cricket — have become the envy of the rest of Australia.

And with the Scorchers favourites to clinch more BBL glory, why would their players want to be anywhere else?