A left-arm orthodox spinner, Aaron Heal will be aiming to regain a regular place in Western Australia's Sheffield Shield side in 2008-09 with no Brad Hogg for competition. The previous summer his four outings brought only four wickets, although he was useful in the shorter formats and was the state's equal leading Twenty20 wicket-taker with nine at 17.66. In 2006-07, Heal had been an unlikely star of Western Australia's opening Pura Cup matches. It had been three years since his previous appearance for the Warriors and he claimed 15 wickets from the first two games at the traditionally pace-friendly WACA. His initial first-class ten-wicket match came in the second game against Tasmania, when he snared five in each innings. He missed the next match when Hogg returned from international duties and Heal's impact lessened as the season wore on. He finished with 22 wickets at 27.40 from eight games and also chipped in with two half-centuries, but was only used in one FR Cup match and one Twenty20 fixture as Hogg was preferred. However, 2006-07 was undoubtedly a breakthrough year for Heal, who benefited from Beau Casson's move to New South Wales, and he earned a return to the Academy in 2007. Heal should have a good idea of how to extract the most from pitches, as he works as a groundsman in Perth.
Brydon Coverdale September 2008