Gritty Sam Whiteman hundred on captaincy debut gives WA the edge in Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania

Bunbury’s Sam Whiteman has made a stunning start to life as a State skipper, producing a quintessential captain’s knock to drag Western Australia out of a bind and into a strong position in the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania. The first-time captain arrived at the crease on Sunday after the early demise of Cameron Bancroft on the opening day and watched on as fellow Colts Cricket Club product Jayden Goodwin followed soon after — but would finish the day unbeaten on 151, with his side 6-350. He continued on the next morning, declaring the inning closed on 176, with WA 9-405. The gritty innings narrowly beats his previous first-class high score — a 174 made playing for Australia A in 2014. Whiteman returned to the side after missing last week’s trip to Queensland with a freak concussion injury he picked up during a mammoth 187-run stand for Fremantle a fortnight ago. WHITEMAN TO LEAVE SCORCHERS AFTER THREE TITLES The 29-year-old became the first South West product since Murray Goodwin in 2003 to lead the side, assuming the position with Mitch Marsh (international duty), Ashton Turner and Shaun Marsh (calf) all out of action. The pair’s black and yellow shirts sit side by side in frames alongside each other at Colts, where Goodwin said it was clear from an early age that Whiteman had leadership potential. The Zimbabwe Test legend and one-time State captain said seeing Whiteman take on the role made him “really proud”. “I could see amongst his peers he had the potential to be a leader,” Goodwin said. “I am proud of Sammy, being a country guy. “For him to now be regarded as the stand-in captain, that’s a great honour. “I know he will do a really good job.” For Goodwin’s son Jayden, the first innings continued a rocky start to life as a first-class cricketer, with the compact left-hander yet to score more than 10 through three innings, despite showing positive signs and appearing unfazed against the swinging new ball.