Warriors shop for top order
Australian Twenty20 star Aaron Finch and former Test players Ed Cowan and Tim Paine head a shopping list of top-order batsmen WA hope to attract next season.
Despite superb T20 form, Finch has struggled to cement a Sheffield Shield position for Victoria.
Cowan and Paine are regulars for Tasmania.
Queensland all-rounder Mich- ael Neser is also on WA's radar and reinforced his value by scoring 40 and claiming 3-37 and 3-44 in the win over the Warriors at the Gabba this week.
Paine played four Tests as the stand-in wicket-keeper in 2010 and could be the frontrunner to replace veteran Australian gloveman Brad Haddin, yet has scored just one century in 71 first-class matches - 215 at the WACA Ground eight years ago.
The 29-year-old is also understood to be contemplating retirement, but is eager to coach and considers that an apprenticeship under WA's Justin Langer would provide an ideal starting point.
Finch has a first-class average of 25 and was dropped by the Bushrangers last month after another dismal shield season.
He scored two one-day centuries for Australia only a month earlier. Finch, 27, may struggle to regain his place for Victoria despite a record as an explosive short-form batsman.
Cowan is settled in Tasmania after five years that brought the 2010-11 shield and 1001 runs in 18 Tests. At 31, he could have another five years at State level.
Although Langer has brought a stronger work ethic and greater success to WA, top-order batting remains a problem for the Warriors.
Opener Cameron Bancroft has scored just 52 runs in his past seven innings and has fallen lbw four times in that time as opposition bowlers have exploited a flaw in his technique.
Marcus Harris has scored only 93 runs at 15.50 since being called in to replace Shaun Marsh, while Ashton Turner (117 at 19.50) has shown glimpses of quality without confirming his credentials.
Marcus North (840 at 76.36) and Adam Voges (760 at 69.09) have held up the WA top order this season, but both turn 35 before next season. North does not have a contract for next season, though Langer said he was guaranteed to receive an offer of an extension.
Spinner Michael Beer is also out of contract, while pacemen Ryan Duffield and Nathan Rimmington may be forced to look interstate to play regular cricket.
The State contracting process starts as soon as the shield final is over and takes about a month.
