Fast bowler Bryce Jackson has lost his Western Australia deal only months after topping the state’s one-day wicket list, part of a wider contract shake-up that also sees Cameron Gannon head back to Queensland for family reasons.
Jackson, 26, bagged 15 wickets at 22.13 in this season’s Marsh One-Day Cup and, in just 14 List A outings overall, boasts 34 scalps at 20.79. Even so, he never quite cracked the Shield XI and his last major appearance was three 50-over games against Sri Lanka A in Darwin last winter. The axe leaves WA without the man who, on paper at least, was their most reliable limited-overs seamer.
He is joined on the outer by 21-year-old Teague Wyllie—hailed two summers ago when he became WA’s youngest Shield centurion—plus Baxter Holt and Keaton Critchell. Wyllie’s past season was stop-start: 71 for a Cricket Australia XI versus the England Lions, yet only two Shield matches.
Gannon’s departure hurts in red-ball cricket. The tall right-armer claimed 42 wickets at 24.38 and collected the Laurie Sawle Medal as WA’s men’s cricketer of the year, but a return east was, we’re told, non-negotiable for family reasons. Fellow quick Matt Kelly will concentrate on white-ball work.
All of this comes after WA finished bottom of the Sheffield Shield for a second straight year—Adam Voges’ final campaign in charge. There was always going to be a squeeze: Test squad quicks Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris are back on state retainers after losing central contracts, so room had to be found.
In that sense Kieran Elliott’s move west from Tasmania is interesting. The 23-year-old played four Shield games last term, taking 10 wickets at 38.60, but his 29 at 24.86 the previous summer hint at more. Emerging all-rounder Will Malajczuk lands a first full contract, while Premier Cricket run-machine Tom Murray is rewarded after four hundreds and a clutch of second-XI fifties.
“We feel now is an opportune time to welcome some fresh faces into the squad after a season that did not play out how we would’ve liked,” WA general manager Kade Harvey said.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kieran Elliott into the programme, and we feel he will complement our existing fast bowlers nicely.
“There’s no denying Will Malajczuk’s talents and we are really excited at what he has to offer with both bat and ball. Tom Murray’s form at both Premier Cricket and Toyota Second XI level this season was exemplary and he deserves his opportunity to represent WA.
“We would like to thank Cameron, Baxter, Teague, Bryce and Keaton for their considerable contributions to WA Cricket and wish them well in their future endeavours. Cameron has made a profound impact in a short space of time in WA and it was really pleasing to see that recognised in the form of a Laurie Sawle Medal last season.”
Beau Casson, the former Test wrist-spinner, officially replaces Voges as head coach, while Voges continues with Perth Scorchers in the BBL.
Western Australia men’s squad 2026-27 (contracted unless stated rookie)
Cameron Bancroft, Mahli Beardman, Simon Budge rookie, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Kieran Elliott, Albert Esterhuysen rookie, Sam Fanning, Jayden Goodwin, Cameron Green, Ashton Turner, Jhye Richardson, Lance Morris, Will Malajczuk, Tom Murray, Corey Wasley rookie, Jordan Quiggin rookie, plus white-ball deal for Matt Kelly.
