After returning to Western Australia’s WACA, Cooper Connolly seeks to bolster his team’s chances for a historic fourth consecutive Sheffield Shield title against Victoria. WA, currently in fourth place, must win while hoping Queensland and New South Wales do not win their matches. Connolly, recently back from his debut Test in Sri Lanka and a semi-final appearance against India, aims to energize the team amid a season marred by injuries and inconsistency. As key players miss out, including Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh, Connolly’s performance is critical as he looks to make a lasting impact before an uncertain future.
For WA to secure their title hopes, they must defeat Victoria while also relying on both Queensland and New South Wales to lose their respective matches. Their aspiration to become the first team to win four straight titles in the six-team era—since Tasmania joined in 1977-78—seems challenging amid a tough season marked by inconsistency, injuries, and player unavailability.
The dynamic Connolly hopes to ignite WA’s performance in what will be his first Shield match since October. “I always love coming back to play for WA,” he shared with reporters on Friday. “I haven’t played many Shield games, but I’m eager to reconnect with the boys once again.”
“Playing some cricket back home will be nice, and I’m hopeful for some favorable results so we can contest a Shield final.”
He participated in an Australia A match against India A before injuring his hand in an ODI against Pakistan in Perth, being hit by fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain. Connolly made a quick recovery in time for the BBL, where he excelled for the Perth Scorchers and was named player of the tournament alongside Glenn Maxwell—an x-factor player to whom he has been compared.
Connolly’s impressive BBL performance earned him a spot on the Sri Lanka tour, ahead of Maxwell, and he made his Test debut in the second Test. Despite having only four first-class matches under his belt, he faced skepticism and had a tough start, getting out for just 4 while batting at No. 8, and bowled only five overs across two innings with his left-arm spin being ineffective.
However, Connolly embraced the experience and seized the opportunity to learn from his teammates, particularly stand-in captain Steven Smith. “I just absorbed his knowledge and observed what worked for me,” he said. “I aimed to learn as much as I could, enjoying the process along the way.”
“I didn’t find it surprising to make my Test debut. I felt like I earned my chance. Overall, it was a fantastic trip to Sri Lanka, and I loved every moment.”
A month later, Connolly once again found himself in the limelight after stepping in for the injured opener Matthew Short during the semi-final against India in Dubai. It was a bold decision, especially since Connolly had only played three ODIs prior and had limited experience opening in List A cricket.
“I didn’t find my opportunity [in the semi-final] surprising,” Connolly commented. “I believed I was selected for a reason to showcase my skills.”
“Walking out for a semi-final was an incredible experience, and I’ll take away significant lessons from it.”
While the conditions may differ, Connolly is unlikely to find relief on a WACA pitch that appeared particularly lush before the match. Given the stakes, the pitch could resemble that used last month against South Australia, which produced the fastest outright result in Shield history.
Having not been selected during the IPL auction, this match against Victoria could be Connolly’s last for a while since he presently has no playing commitments during the off-season.
“Ideally, I would love to play in the IPL one day… [but] I’m concentrating on what’s ahead of me,” he noted. “I’m not looking too far ahead; I’m just aiming to enjoy playing cricket and hopefully put some runs on the board while improving my bowling.”
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth