Cameron Bancroft has the chance to launch the domestic cricket season with a bang after being one of only a few Ashes players to be cleared for the opening fixtures of the One Day Cup.
Bancroft, who only returned from England on Wednesday, will line up for Western Australia in Saturday’s season opener against Victoria at the WACA Ground.
WA’s final team could feature up to 10 players with international experience, but captain Mitch Marsh won’t be one of them after the decision was made to rest him following his recent Ashes heroics.
Bancroft struggled during his two Ashes Tests in England, scoring just 44 runs at an average of 11 before being axed for the final three Tests.
But he did well just to earn selection for the series after missing half of last summer due to suspension over the Cape Town ball tampering scandal.
Bancroft now has the chance to play a full summer of cricket, and his bid to win back his international spot starts this Saturday against Victoria.
Veteran Warriors batsman Shaun Marsh is excited about what his powerful team can produce.
“It’s good to have Bangers back. He’s been in fantastic form for us over a few years,” Marsh said.
“We’ve got some really good experience there in the side. A lot of guys have played for Australia.
“Certainly it will bode well for us. We’re coming up against a very good team in Victoria who have been the benchmark for the last few years. We know we’ve got a real challenge on our hands.”
WA paceman Jason Behrendorff was ruled out with a slight back niggle.
The Bushrangers will be without Ashes trio Marcus Harris, Peter Siddle and James Pattinson.
But the defending champions still boast plenty of firepower in the form of Chris Tremain, Peter Handscomb, Aaron Finch, Will Pucovski and Glenn Maxwell.
Marsh required surgery after fracturing his arm at the recent World Cup, and he needed six stitches last week after splitting webbing in his hand.
But the 36-year-old has declared himself ready to go against Victoria.
NSW will start the season without their six rested Ashes stars when they take on Queensland Bulls at Allan Border Field on Sunday.
The Blues will be without Steve Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon, while Queensland are set to be without Usman Khawaja.