Dunsborough product Lance Morris stresses importance of rhythm as he continues to be carefully managed

Dunsborough product Lance Morris has stressed the importance of rhythm to his bowling as his workload continues to be tightly managed by Cricket Australia’s high-performance staff. The speedster claimed his first shield five-wicket haul since 2022 in WA’s draw with New South Wales at the WACA Ground last week, finishing with 5-26 from 20.3 overs in the first innings. He played in consecutive shield games for the first time this season, having earlier featured in a comprehensive win over Queensland at the Gabba, but he was restricted to about 30 overs in that match. Morris holds a national contract, meaning WA cricket has no control over his program, which is instead dictated by Cricket Australia. After dealing with back problems in recent years and being sidelined by a quad strain at the start of this season, he has been carefully managed through the summer, having featured in only four of a possible nine shield games. Speaking after the second day of play, Morris said he was stoked to be trusted with a greater workload. “It goes a long way to have a couple (of games) back-to-back and I’m definitely a rhythm kind of player,” he said. “I felt pretty good today and it’s nice to be back out on the WACA. “It’s nice to be able to have an impact and be economical as well. “I’m feeling really good, it’s nice to get back into that rhythm of playing shield cricket and working through those general niggles and stuff like that that come with red-ball cricket.” Morris is expected to miss WA’s final game of the shield home-and-away season against Victoria at the WACA Ground, which starts on Saturday, in order to bolster his hopes of playing in the final, should WA make it. Bunbury batters Sam Whiteman and Jayden Goodwin are set to feature in the clash, which WA will need to win and have other results go their way to keep their hopes of an fourth-consecutive title alive.