The WA Men\u2019s Aboriginal team\u2019s 13-player squad for this week\u2019s National Indigenous Cricket Championships could be the strongest that\u2019s been assembled, according to Head Coach Jermaine Davis.<\/p>\n
Having won the title in 2024, WA narrowly missed out on a spot in last year\u2019s decider, which was won by Queensland.<\/p>\n
However, Davis said the group was well placed to go deeper in this year\u2019s Championships.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been talking to some past players in recent weeks, and I believe it\u2019s the strongest ever squad we\u2019ve selected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe group that we have selected is one that can win the tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs I\u2019ve said to the group though, we want to take it game-by-game and focus closely on what we are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former WA and Australian player D\u2019Arcy Short headlines the squad, which will be led by Willetton\u2019s Brock Larance.<\/p>\n
Short, who has played eight One-Day Internationals and 23 T20 Internationals, played in the NICC previously and used the tournament to propel him to the international stage.<\/p>\n
Davis said Short\u2019s presence and experience would be beneficial for the rest of the squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo have someone like D\u2019Arcy in the team, who is still world class, is an amazing acquisition,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the young players in the team that are emerging, having D\u2019Arcy around the group will help them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe aren\u2019t putting any extra pressure on him to perform though because we just want him to go out there and play cricket.\u201d<\/p>\n
Short\u2019s Willetton teammate Larance, who was Player of the Tournament in 2024, has been named Captain of the side for 2026.<\/p>\n
Davis said Larance had embraced the opportunity to lead the side.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe leadership role adds another string to Brock\u2019s bow,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s invested and passionate about the tournament and always gives 110 per cent for WA.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he plays his best cricket, I really think he\u2019s as good an Aboriginal cricketer there is.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Larance and Short are the headline acts in the side, the father-son duo of Dane and Elijah Ugle is set to add further potency to the WA side.<\/p>\n
Davis said there were plenty of depth in this year\u2019s squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne name that goes quietly under the radar is Craig Jones, who I think will have a really good carnival,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe bowls a heavy ball and he can hit a big ball too.<\/p>\n
\u201cDekan John-Furnace has been making some big runs in country cricket in the lead up to the tournament too.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we have someone like Elijah Dare who will probably bowl a lot more this year and his off spin will add a lot more to the bowling line up.\u201d<\/p>\n
WA\u2019s first match of the NICC is against Victoria on Tuesday 14 April.<\/p>\n