WACA reappoints Langer as Captain

Warriors embark on Pre-Season Indian Tour

The Western Australian Cricket Association made a further announcement today, with the confirmation that Justin Langer will Captain the Western Warriors again for the upcoming season, with Marcus North elevated to Vice-Captain.

Australian Test opener Langer will lead the Warriors for a fourth season in a row after being appointed Western Australian State Captain at the beginning of the 2003-04 season.

Langer said he was honoured to be leading the side again for the upcoming season after his re-appointment was confirmed.

"This summer is going to be massive for cricket and I'm honoured to have been given the responsibility of leading the Western Warriors again," he said.

"We will be looking for not only success this season, but also to build the foundations in our young, talented squad for sustained success in the next five to 10 years."

Langer is expected to lead the side in up to eight Pura Cup and eight Domestic One-day matches with North, who will step up from Deputy Vice-Captain to Vice-Captain, to take charge for the fixtures that he is unavailable.

WACA Chief Executive Officer Tony Dodemaide said that Langer is the right man to lead WA cricket forward in 2006-07.

"A player with the record of JL commands respect and with a young developing team he is the ideal candidate to lead the Warriors for the upcoming season," Dodemaide said.

"With the fixturing the way it is he will be around for the majority of the season with Marcus having the opportunity to develop his leadership skills in their matches together, and as skipper in the matches that Justin is unavailable."

North replaces Mike Hussey as Vice-Captain, with Hussey unavailable for the majority of the domestic season due to his expected commitments with both the Australian Test and One-day teams.

Following their pre-season tour to India the Warriors commence their domestic season with a One-day match against Victoria at the WACA Ground on Friday the 13th of October.

A squad of 15 Warriors, together with support staff and University of Western Australia (UWA) representatives, will head to the cities of Bangalore and Mysore to take on the First Class team of Karnataka State in one three day fixture and three one-day fixtures.

"We both share a similar goal of fostering international excellence - the WACA by producing world class cricketers and UWA by producing world class thinkers," Dodemaide said

UWA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson, said the partnership with the WACA was consistent with UWA's record of almost one hundred years of serving the community, and its philosophy of achieving international excellence.

"The presence of the Warriors on tour to India, a renowned cricket loving nation, will attract significant attention and create a strong focus on the alignment of UWA with the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning, research and community engagement," he said.

"The University will benefit in many ways from this partnership, including awareness in the region, being identified with the quality of a strong and proud cricket team that nurtures world class players and the promise of future relations with students, staff and universities in India."

The Warriors leave for Bangalore on Thursday the 21st of September and return to Perth on Monday the 2nd of October.

Warriors Pre-season Tour of India Schedule