Teenage Wyllie set to be rewarded with full contract

Teenage batting sensation Teague Wyllie is set to be rewarded with a full contract by Western Australia, bypassing the rookie level typically set aside for young players.

Wyllie, who turns 18 on Sunday, capped a stunning rise to the top level of Australian domestic cricket last month by winning a Sheffield Shield title in just his second first-class match, becoming the youngest player in the 120-year history of the competition to do so as WA snapped a 23-year title drought.

It's understood Wyllie – who wasn't contracted when he made his debut in the final round of the regular season – has earned a full contract with WA Cricket for the 2022-23 season on the back of a dominant summer that also saw him included in the Under-19 World Cup Team of the Tournament in February.

Despite his age, the right-hander looked assured and confident during his first-class debut as he notched 42 in a 103-run partnership with Hilton Cartwright against a Victorian attack featuring former Test speedster James Pattinson.

A week later, he made four and 23 against the same opposition, which this time featured Ashes hero Scott Boland in their line-up, as Western Australia secured their first Shield title since 1998-99.

Wyllie will join his 19-year-old sister Georgia in earning a WA state contract when still a teenager. Having first been contracted in 2020, Georgia made her senior West Australia debut 24 days before her brother in their WNCL clash against the SA Scorpions.

Wyllie starred in his two Toyota Second XI appearances for WA this season with 382 runs at 191 with two centuries before a fantastic World Cup tournament that yielded 278 runs in six matches with a top score of 101 not out.

He said after the Shield final that it was "a pretty unbelievable experience" to be able to win a title in just his second game.

"It's what dreams are made off. Some people have waited 20 years, 15 years, 10 years and for me, it's been two weeks so it's pretty unbelievable," he said.

"This (the Shield final) is my favourite game I've ever played and hopefully (I'll have) a long career but it's still early days.

"From (my debut) on I've just been fully focused on my process and my routines to be able to try and perform at this level.

"It's been a pretty hectic last six months; from where I've come from to say (I played) in a Shield final is pretty crazy; a lot of hard work has gone into it."

Australia's talent and pathways manager, Graham Manou, told cricket.com.au in February the "world could be his oyster".

"There's a lot of characteristics both technically and physically that are going to hold him in great stead," Manou said.

"He's got an understanding of some of the great players. I was listening to his intro on the (World Cup) broadcast and he's talking about how his game is very similar to (Rahul) Dravid.

"There's only a few guys that I have come across that have been really aware of modelling their game on some of the great players – not just necessarily within our own four walls."

Barring injury, Wyllie would be expected to feature in WA's top six for their first Shield match next season and will start training as a full member of the state squad once players return from leave on May 23.

Wyllie is far from the youngest to earn a WA contract, with Australian allrounder Cameron Green signing a rookie deal at just 16 years old for the 2016-17 season before being upgraded to a full contract during that summer.