Simmons goes home to Western Australia

Craig Simmons, the former Western Australia batsman, has returned to the Warriors after three seasons with New South Wales. Simmons, 25, has struggled to break into the strong Blues top order in the past couple of summers and did not have his New South Wales contract renewed for 2007-08.

He spent three years with Western Australia prior to moving to Sydney, and made his first-class debut for the Warriors in 2003-04. Simmons made occasional Pura Cup appearances for the Blues in 2005-06 and was a one-day regular that season, but added only two limited-overs games the next season and did not represent the state last summer.

Simmons, who was part of Australia's Under-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2002, has continued to pile on the runs in Sydney's grade competition and was third on the run list in 2007-08. Simmons said his time in New South Wales had made him a more complete player.

"I felt that it was a good time to return home," Simmons said. "With the retirement of Justin Langer and the departure of Chris Rogers there is a great opportunity to push for a regular place in the Warriors team."

The Western Australia coach, Tom Moody, said it was pleasing to regain Simmons. "Adding the likes of Craig and Wes Robinson to our batting line-up has helped to offset the departures we had at the end of last summer," Moody said. Western Australia's squad for 2008-09 will be finalised in early June after the deadline for the second round of contract offers.