Flashing blade has Voges on the brink
Adam Voges is on track to produce the greatest season by a WA batsman after the best day of his career ushered the Warriors to the top of the Sheffield Shield ladder.
The WA skipper had a momentous hour on the last day against NSW in Newcastle when he passed a series of individual milestones.
Voges needs 172 runs in a possible six innings to replace Test opener Chris Rogers as the most prolific WA batsman in any season.
The 35-year-old is in career-best form, but has found a new level of performance on either side of the Big Bash League break after a season that has brought scores of 79, 27 not out, 0, 5no, 41, 109no, 8, 101, 139no, 101, 22no, 249, 9, 87 and 54no.
In the space of an hour at Newcastle, Voges reached 1000 runs for the season, passed 10,000 runs in his first-class career and equalled the most runs by any WA captain.
The right-hander now has 2874 runs at the helm of the Warriors, the same as long-time skippers Barry Shepherd and Graeme Wood.
Voges' golden shield summer came after he turned 35 on the eve of this season.
Voges is averaging 114.55. Don Bradman is the only other Australian to average above 65 after turning 35. Bradman returned 91 from 28 matches beyond that age.
When Voges struck the winning runs to produce the 16th victory of his captaincy career, it moved WA back to the top of the shield ladder, with matches against contenders Queensland (fourth) and NSW (third) to determine whether a shield final will be held at the WACA Ground for the first time in 17 years.
WA will take on the Bulls at Allan Border Field on Thursday.
Veteran paceman Michael Hogan was added to the squad after spending last week in Newcastle with his family while he recovered from a hamstring niggle.
Spinner Michael Beer was dropped from the squad.
Young quick Simon Mackin was not considered after picking up a side injury against South Australia at the WACA last month.
He may not be fit to play again this season and is likely to join speedsters Jason Behrendorff, Joel Paris and Ryan Duffield on the long-term injured list.
David Moody retained his place after a sparkling debut in Newcastle where he claimed 7-82.
SQUADS - WA: * Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Michael Klinger, Adam Voges (capt), Shaun Marsh, Tom Beaton, Sam Whiteman, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Nathan Rimmington, David Moody, Michael Hogan, Andrew Tye.
QLD: *Joe Burns, Charlie Hemphrey, Peter Forrest, Chris Lynn, Michael Phillipson, Chris Hartley, Jack Wildermuth, James Hopes (capt), Cameron Boyce, Luke Feldman, Peter George, Mark Steketee.
DID YOU KNOW? 172 The number of runs Adam Voges needs to be WA's most prolific shield batsman in a season
