Western Australia eye Josh Mangan

Western Australia are keen to rope in Josh Mangan, a legspinner from Victoria, as a replacement for Beau Casson, the left-arm wristspinner who has signed up with New South Wales for the next season.

Mangan, 20, has already played for the Australian under-19 side and is rated highly, but Victoria's legspin department is already overcrowded with Shane Warne and Cameron White, the captain, playing for the state. Wayne Clark, the Western Australian coach, reckoned that a possible lack of opportunities with Victoria might help Mangan make up his mind to switch to Perth.

"He has been in the system in Victoria, but with White and Warne back and forth playing it's been difficult for him to play at the next level," Clark was quoted as saying by The Age, an Australian daily. "Maybe a couple of years here might help him out.

"The discussions have been positive so far," said Clark. "It's worked for a number of young players around Australia at different times where guys have seen an opportunity and grabbed it. That's really up to Josh from now on." Western Australia have already protested against Casson's move and have appealed to a grievance tribunal, who will hear the case on May 29.

Meanwhile, Victoria failed to get Chris Rogers, the Western Australian opener, to shift to Melbourne for the next season. Ken Jacobs, Cricket Victoria's chief executive, admitted that they had approached Rogers unsuccessfully. "It just eventuated that Victoria wasn't on his radar."