Warriors to host Dolphins and Bushrangers

Western Australia's Western Warriors host the Kwa-Zulu Natal Dolphins and Victorian Bushrangers in a pre-season warm-up series.

Information available at this stage is that Kwa-Zulu Natal will be touring Australia from 10 - 26 September 2000. They have been confirmed to play in the Western Australian coastal resort town of Broome on Sunday, September 24 2000.

The Dolphins are expected to be missing regular captain Dale Benkenstein, and Proteas captain Shaun Pollock, and stars Lance Klusener and Jonty Rhodes. These chaps will be away on international duties at that time. Former West Indian international Eldine Baptiste is regarded a local player now and appeared in many matches last season. Even at 40 years of age he is still a vital player lending much depth of experience and some character to the Dolphins side.

Although Kwa-Zulu Natal has never toured Western Australia as a team before - they will not be the first South African provincial team to tour here. In 1997 (then) Transvaal (now Gauteng) toured Australia helping WA to unearth the talent of Michael Dighton.

Meanwhile, the Western Australian team will most probably be missing their outstanding Keeper Adam Gilchrist and All-rounder Damien Martyn who will be on their way to the ICC knock out in Kenya. But otherwise WA are at full strength with the expected return of Justin Langer (Middlesex), and Simon Katich (Durham), who are playing county cricket in England and Michael Dighton who is playing with Excelsior in the Netherlands. When I spoke to Adam Gilchrist today he said he "Would be making himself available for the warm up series," but at this stage he is unlikelyto play with the ICC knock out starting early October 2000.

WA plays the Victorians in Broome on Saturday, September 23 2000. It is understood that there will be other games played around the Perth metropolitan area between WA and Victoria, though details are unavailable at this stage. Victoria should have Elliott likely to make his return from County cricket but are likely to be missing Warne, Fleming and Harvey on international duties with the Australian squad.

This will be the second consecutive season that Victoria has been welcomed to Western Australia for the pre-season warm-up. Last season Victoria had the upper hand, winning all but one of their games against the Western Australian's who were obviously suffering from a hangover after the third consecutive season victory in the (then) Sheffield Shield. A game against the WA 2nd XI that was unfortunately washed out - but the majority of the games were unaffected by the weather.

Broome during spring is very warm and dry showing no signs of the monsoonal season to come in December. Perth is usually quite dry by that time of the year.

Being a resort town - there are plenty of places to stay if you want to thaw out before the cricket season ahead - or if you are just trying to get away from the olympics.