Jamie Cox's Postcards

WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH 2001
The vagaries of the West: Jamie Cox on a bizarre week in Perth

Western Australia has always presented many unique circumstances and challenges to visiting cricketers and teams.

The most notable of course is the extra pace and bounce offered by the pitch which, when combined with the lightning fast outfield and regular bright sunshine, make it the best place to bat in the world in my opinion. Having said that, many bowlers also enjoy the conditions for the very same reasons, the fast outfield aside of course!

There is also the 'Fremantle Doctor', which blows in most afternoons, making hitting towards the leeward side of the ground an even greater joy late in the day. I have always considered this to be a cross breeze; it certainly always feels that way to me but every bowler has assured me that running up from the Members' End is considerably harder work than the coveted Lillee-Marsh End.

Playing surface and weather conditions aside, there is also another unique quality about the west that I have recently experienced and that is their parochialism, particularly through the media. Call me naive but, despite having heard many stories about their adoration of anything left of the Nullabor, I had never experienced it first hand until recently.

Let me set the scene:

In the previous game against Victoria, I made the decision to declare behind the Bushrangers, as it looked as though that was the best way to get an outright result. It turned out to be the right decision as we were successful, thanks to some inspired second innings bowling and a steady run chase.

Little did I know it at the time but two first innings points for the Vics effectively ended the Warriors chances of making the Pura Cup final. As a result, Tom Moody decided to make the very noble decision to call it a day to give a younger player an opportunity.

Dealing with the media is an inherent task of captaincy and it is something that I have never minded doing. I think time spent on each side of the microphone helps one tolerate and even appreciate the media far more but the experience in Perth was bizarre.

First question: "So how do you feel about your declaration effectively ending WA's season"? My response: "Quite good actually as, by ending their season, we came closer to dragging ourselves off the bottom".

Second question: "So how do feel about ending the career of Tom Moody"? My response: "Well if I knew it would be that easy I would have done it years ago!" I should have seen this one coming after the first question and I did make sure the next day that Tom did not take offence, as none was certainly intended, but it did manage to bring an abrupt end to the interview.

We have developed a very precise plan about playing in WA and in this game managed to carry it out perfectly to win inside three days - a rare feat indeed in Perth! The post match press conference seemed to go very well. The winning captain glowing with praise about his rejuvenated team and the gathering seemingly impressed by the way we played.

Unfortunately, the focus the next day revolved completely around how badly WA must have played to lose to Tasmania in Perth! How disappointing that they could not send Tom Moody and Wayne Clark off on a winning note. One quoted statistic even mentioned that it was only our third win in twenty-four years of coming to Perth. Indeed not a lie but I have played in all three of those wins and I certainly have not been going to Perth for that long!

The newspapers were naturally full of tributes to Tom, which does not leave a lot else to say. But if I can add my two bobs' worth it is to say that he was the most respected all-round cricketer to have played during my time in the game so far. Mr Reliable with both bat and ball. His statistics place him in a very select and small group who have made over 5000 runs and taken over two hundred wickets in domestic first-class cricket and his Sheffield Shield Final performances simply make him the king of late March action. Whilst never witnessing it from within, his captaincy and leadership were obviously first class, with numerous trophies in the cabinet and with WA often appearing disjointed on either side of his stint at the helm.

'Rest in peace' big Tom. I am sure that the Warriors' loss will be Worcestershire's gain!

More Postcards 21 February 2001 Jamie Cox reflects on the Mercantile Mutual Cup season 7 February 2001 Reversing results and the reverse sweep: Jamie Cox on challenges for the Tigers and contemporary captains