Bunbury product Sam Whiteman makes rapid recovery from broken finger to play in WA’s first game of 2024-25

Bunbury player Sam Whiteman made a rapid recovery from a broken finger to feature in WA’s first game of the 2024-25 cricket season on Sunday. The 32-year-old had ruled himself out of selection calculations earlier this month due to the injury — suffered in a pre-season fielding session — but played as WA had an 11-run loss to New South Wales in a One Day Cup game in Sydney. Batting at No.3, he made 26 from 32 deliveries in the clash before finding Daniel Hughes on the leg-side boundary with a pull shot off the bowling of Will Salzmann. WA’s One Day captain Ashton Turner said he was pleased to have Whiteman in his side. “Had you asked me a couple of weeks ago I would have told you he wasn’t available for these games, but ... he ticked every box he needed to tick to be available for selection,” he said. “Fortunately the crack in his finger has been deemed OK to take a risk to play some cricket and we’re all the better for it.” Dunsborough’s Lance Morris did not feature against the Blues, but is expected to come into the side for a clash with South Australia in Sydney tomorrow.