The Western Fury has finalised its coaching staff and selection panel for the 2008-09 Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) season as the team strives to build on the momentum of three consecutive wins to end last season.

Head Coach Steve Philippe will be assisted by the WACA's High Performance Coach David Fitzgerald, Development Coach Jim Walters, and Team Manager Patrice Berthold, with Philippe and former State representatives Sally Bradbury and Heather Taylor making up the team's selection committee.

An off-spinner who was mentored by WA Team of the Century representative Bruce Yardley, Bradbury played for Western Australia at a National Women's Carnival in 1990 before heading to the United Kingdom with husband Paul to establish Bradbury Cricket Ltd, one of the world's leading bat-making companies. Whilst in the UK she played at county level for Somerset, as well as Second Grade for Taunton in the Somerset (Men's) League. She also represented Bath and Minehead in the Somerset Women's League.

Taylor was a stalwart of the Fury for over a decade until her retirement from State cricket at the end of the 2005-06 season. She has also played over 200 district matches in Perth for Midland-Guildford and High Wycombe and has taken out the A Grade Player of the Year award on two occasions.

Philippe says the Fury squad will gain a lot from the wealth of experience that the coaching staff and selection panel possesses.

“The players will learn so much from the likes of David, who is a former Australia A and State batsman, as well as Jim, an ex-WACA District cricketer, and Patrice, a regular with the Fury and member of an Australian development squad in the early part of this decade,” Philippe said.

“In Sally and Heather we have two women with outstanding knowledge of cricket and they will add to the strongest support staff that the Fury has enjoyed in a number of years.”

WACA High Performance Manager Doug Harris says the coaching and selection team will provide leadership and professional support in the Fury's push for WNCL success.

“All of the members of the Western Fury support staff are well respected in women's cricket with experience at state and international level,” Harris said.

“These are key appointments as we strive develop and grow a strong culture throughout cricket in Western Australia.”

The Western Fury's WNCL campaign gets underway with a double-header against the SA Scorpions at Aquinas College on the weekend of November 29 & 30.

WESTERN FURY 2008-09 SCHEDULE

Saturday 29 November 2008 – Western Fury v SA Scorpions, Aquinas College

Sunday 30 November 2008 – Western Fury v SA Scorpions, Aquinas College

Saturday 6 December 2008 – NSW Breakers v Western Fury, SCG

Sunday 7 December 2008 – NSW Breakers v Western Fury, SCG

*Thursday 8 January 2009 - Victoria Spirit v Western Fury, MCG

Friday 9 January 2009 – Victoria Spirit v Western Fury, St Kilda Cricket Ground

Saturday 10 January 2009 – Victoria Spirit v Western Fury, St Kilda Cricket Ground

*Thursday 15 January 2009 - Western Fury v Queensland Fire, WACA

Saturday 17 January 2009 – Western Fury v Queensland Fire, WACA

Sunday 18 January 2009 – Western Fury v Queensland Fire, WACA

*Twenty20 curtain-raiser prior to KFC Twenty20 Big Bash match