Casson cleared for move to New South Wales

The Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) has failed in its bid to stop Beau Casson, the left-arm wrist-spinner, from switching to New South Wales. The WACA complained to Cricket Australia about the recruiting process used to lure Casson, the state's No. 1 first-class slow bowler, but a grievance tribunal hearing in Melbourne today rejected any breach of the transfer laws.

Ron Beazley, the Cricket Australia code of behaviour commissioner, Steven Skala, a Cricket Australia representative, and John McMullan, the Australian Cricketers' Association's representative, heard the matter and a Cricket Australia spokesman said the "charge was not proven". The issue centred around rule four of the 2005-09 Memorandum of Understanding: "A state association must not (and must ensure that its constituent clubs do not) hold discussions with a CA contracted player or state contracted player who is bound to another state association concerning the possible transfer of that player without first informing the player's home state association."

Casson is now free to move to the Blues and will battle with Stuart MacGill, Jason Krejza, Aaron O'Brien, Steve O'Keefe and Nathan Hauritz for the spinning berths next summer. Western Australia's main slow man is again Brad Hogg, who was used mainly in the ING Cup last season as Casson was favoured for the Pura Cup competition.