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10:54

Gareth Parker - Hi all, please get your questions in for cricket writer John Townsend.

11:00

[Comment From Guest]
John, can you give us some background on Wes Robinson?

11:02

John Townsend - Well done to Wes on his 141 yesterday. He's a hard grafter who played for Wanneroo and then shifted to Claremont-Nedlands. He's done a lot of work with John Traicos, the former Zim and Safrican test player, and has overcome a few injuries to fibally get his chance at State level. He's one of my favourite players because he is all fight and guts.

11:03

[Comment From Peter]
Why is the state of district cricket a shambles in WA and what can be done to improve it?

11:05

John Townsend -

Far from being a shambles, district cricket is pretty strong. It keeps producing and preparing players but unfortunately for WA, some of the best ones have gone to other States. Wes Robinson is a classical example of a player who is succeeding at State level after a decade of development at club level. Keep an eye out for a couple of young players like Marcus Harris at Scarborough who are coming through the ranks too.

11:05

[Comment From John]
Should State coach Tom Moody be sacked? It appears he has lost the lot.

11:08

John Townsend - That's a bit harsh. Tom has a three year contract and I don't think the WACA would ever sack a bloke with his record and standing. Nonetheless, there has been plenty of disappointment in the past couple of years and a few players have not developed as expected. The WACA is about to appoint a new cricket operations manager who will oversee Tom. It will be interesting to see what impact that has.

11:08

[Comment From Bill]
Dennis Lillee might have been a great cricketer but what has he put back into cricket rather than looking after himself?himself

11:12

John Townsend - Sensational cricketer. The best player produced in WA and a briliant promoter of the game. That was as a player. Dennis has also done a great job at corporate level, bringing in sponsors and helping create the development deal with Ascot Capital that could see the WACA Ground become a viable financial concern in years to come. His downside is that he has become a media recluse who, I reckon, is abrogating his responsibility to promote the WACA in the public eye. We've had a lively discussion on that point but Dennis reckons he has said enough over his decades in the game and it's time for others to speak up.

11:12

[Comment From Parksy]
John, do you have a theory about WA's inability to produce a top-class fast bowler since, well, who... Bruce Reid? Is it the slow WACA wicket? A structural problem at club level?

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