‘Unrivalled parochialism‘: How looking local proved a Big Bash boon for Perth Scorchers

There’s a myriad of reasons the men in orange are the Big Bash’s most successful franchise, a record they’ll get the chance to extend upon in Saturday’s decider against Brisbane Heat at Optus Stadium.

But, in an era when interstate player movement has become the norm, it is telling that the vast majority of Perth’s squad will vie for a record fifth title in front of family and friends.

The Scorchers who have stuck fat do so because they’re proud of their state, a notion that extends to the thousands of fans who have packed Optus Stadium this summer.

Of the team that defeated the Sydney Sixers in last Saturday’s qualifier, 10 of 11 players have carved out careers in WA’s premier or state pathways. Englishman David Payne is the only exception.

The Western Australian cricket pathway is envied, and in some cases pillaged, by rivals.

The loss of English trio Tymal Mills (family reasons), Phil Salt (shoulder injury) and Laurie Evans (positive doping test) before the first ball had been bowled was supposed to hit the Scorchers’ title hopes for six.

Instead, they’re on the verge of history with a team that is more West Aussie than Cottesloe Beach, the Swan River and a missing radioactive capsule in the Pilbara.

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Leading the way is captain Ashton Turner.

Naturally gifted, tactically smart. Doesn’t say much. Relates well to players. Thrives on tight situations.

That’s how long time Fremantle Cricket Club mentor Joe Piromalli views Turner, having been backing him in for more than a decade.

When Piromalli first started coaching the club it was struggling and decided to focus heavily on a talented group of youngsters from its district rather than chasing expensive imports.

Turner was the first to break into the team and Jhye Richardson followed soon after. The ‘locals first’ policy thrived to the point where several seasons ago Fremantle were a team completely made up of local talent.

“Ashton’s natural ability took over,” Piromalli says.

“He had all the shots. He was very good in the field and he had a good arm before shoulder injuries. He was a genuine all-rounder at that point in time. A very fluent individual. He hit the ball hard then and he hits it harder now.”

Turner was still a very young player – Piromalli estimates about 20 – when Fremantle made him captain.

Increasing interstate commitments meant he eventually had to relinquish the position but his leadership has continued to evolve. In a league full of big names, expensive imports and heavy hitters, Turner prefers actions (or runs) over words.

“There was a game early on for Australia where he made about 80 off about 40 balls and won a game against India,” Piromalli says of Turner’s match-winning knock against India in 2019 in Mohali, where Australia chased down 359.

“I think he thrives on the responsibility to finish games off for the state and country.”

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Claremont-Nedlands and Scarborough are also BBL breeding grounds. The two clubs accounted for five members of the team that defeated the Sixers in the qualifier.

Lance Morris built up part of his blistering pace at Scarborough while much has been said of Andrew Tye’s role in Cooper Connolly’s rapid rise.

Perth’s all-time leading wicket-taker presented an emotional Connolly with his cap ahead of his BBL debut and now the pair, separated by a 17-year age gap, will get the chance to achieve the ultimate together.

Claremont-Nedlands batters Stephen Eskinazi and Nick Hobson would’ve been joined by Matthew Kelly if not for him suffering a scary on-field injury during the Scorchers’ final-round win, copping a deflected ball to the face in the field.

The Claremont-Nedlands influence extends into the coaching ranks. Scorchers bowling coach Tim MacDonald was the club’s first grade coach and his emphasis on nurturing local talent has continued in orange, setting up the next generation for even more success.

“It seems like there’s a real return to the old WA, where there was a bit of a production line of exciting young fast bowlers coming through,” he notes.

“There’s heaps around in what we’re calling a Scorchers academy at the moment.

“We pride ourselves on promoting the homegrown talent.

“We know we need international cricketers … they also help in the learning process of our local players and that’s one of the main reasons why we get imports, we get overseas cricketers and these guys can feed off them and learn off them as we go.”

A local flavour is also evident in Perth’s top order.

From the days of Liam Livingstone, Jason Roy and a brief cameo from Faf du Plessis earlier this summer, the Scorchers‘ finals tilt has been built around sandgropers like Cameron Bancroft, Aaron Hardie and Josh Inglis.

“We felt like we needed to be a little bit more aggressive at the top of the order,” Scorchers general manager Kade Harvey says.

“That naturally evolved to picking our best players and sticking with that core group of WA guys that we get to help develop,” Scorchers general manager Kade Harvey says.

“They have a real connection.”

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A few days out from the Scorchers’ first final at Optus Stadium, the town is painted orange.

Whether it’s the tyranny of distance, the club’s success or a combination of both and more, Eskinazi believes Perth’s passion is unmatched.

“It’s pretty unrivalled parochialism from my perspective,” he says.

“It‘s been funny coming from Middlesex where we’re based in London where there’s so many professional sports teams and there’s so much interest in sport in general. Sometimes it can be really hard to find your way to the front of people’s minds from a support perspective.

“And here you just see pure orange, like pure Scorchersmania over the last two weeks or so. It’s been pretty amazing.

“It‘s taken some getting used to and has come with its challenges too from an expectation perspective on game day.

“I think fundamentally on game day it‘s nothing but huge support, because it’s an incredibly intimidating place to come and play your cricket.”