FERREIRA WITH KEY ROLE FOR WA

For the second consecutive year, all-round talent Michael Ferreira is representing WA at the Under-19 National Male Championships, which began in Perth yesterday.

Ferreira, pictured, the son of Zimbabwean Test opener Neil, was raised in Albany and now lives in Perth, where he plays first-grade cricket for Midland-Guilford.

He is averaging 22 with the bat and has taken eight wickets at an average of 20 this season, which helped him secure a place in WA’s 14-man squad under head coach Beau Casson.

WA began their campaign against Tasmania yesterday at Cresswell Park.

They are competing in pool B of the national championships and face Victoria Metro today before a clash with ACT/NSW Country on Thursday and then meet Northern Territory on Friday.

At last year’s tournament Ferreira made 124 runs at 41 and took three wickets at an economy rate of 6.9 runs per over as WA won two games. Ferreira, 18, is expected to play a key role for the hosts over the next nine days in a WA side captained by Damien Burrage while Jayden Goodwin, the son of former Zimbabwean batsman Murray, also looms as a key figure.