Sheffield Shield: Cooper Connolly on touring life, learning from Steve Smith and returning for crucial clash

It is almost impossible to fluster West Australian cricket sensation Cooper Connolly. Even after he was thrown in to open the batting in the Champions Trophy semifinal against India, made a duck and dropped a catch, he bowled as well as he ever has in the same game. Connolly — who returns to WA’s Sheffield Shield for a crucial clash with Victoria from tomorrow — has taken his rapid ascension to become a three-format international cricketer in his stride. There was great appreciation, but little reflection when the 21-year-old opened up on an eight-week tour of Asia ahead of his WACA Ground comeback. “Getting a little taste of it makes you want it more. Getting my baggy green and playing in a Champions Trophy, it was a dream come true and pulling on the baggy green makes you want it more,” Connolly said. “Getting one opportunity was nice, but hopefully there is plenty more. I’m excited to come home, work hard and hopefully get another opportunity.” Steve Smith was a leading advocate of Connolly’s before the trip and was the captain that showed him great faith in the semifinal against India. A long trip where security was tight — particularly in Pakistan — meant Connolly could spend time learning from Smith, who also started his career as a spinning all-rounder. “It was nice, we’d always go to a coffee room, have a sit-down, have a chat. Not all of it was about cricket, a lot of it was about life and chatting and spending time together,” he said. “Security was pretty tight on us ... it was a nice way for the group to get together. “You always listen to those world-class players, there are a lot of them in that group. For me, taking his knowledge and seeing what works for me and leaning on him (Smith) and all the other players.” His unflappable nature means there is immense confidence Connolly will hit the ground running in the final domestic game of the season. He is likely to force Jayden Goodwin out of WA’s shield squad for the must-win meeting with Victoria, but it is not clear whether the all-rounder will slot in at six — occupied by Ashton Turner — or climb up the order. If WA defeat Victoria, they still need Queensland — who are without Usman Khawaja — to lose to South Australia and New South Wales to lose to Tasmania. Connolly got a taste of shield success last summer when he was parachuted into the side for the final victory over Tasmania and said he is hungry to make another final. “You’re always hungry for some silverware, especially back home for WA. We have obviously had a bit of success over the last couple of years and looking forward to hopefully getting that opportunity to play in another shield final,” he said. WACA curators are preparing a sporting wicket for the clash, where the home side can’t risk back-to-back draws.