{"id":298734,"date":"2023-12-21T01:09:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T01:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=298734"},"modified":"2023-12-21T01:09:00","modified_gmt":"2023-12-21T01:09:00","slug":"testing-times-why-australia-should-be-worried-about-nsws-cricket-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/%d1%81ricket\/testing-times-why-australia-should-be-worried-about-nsws-cricket-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Testing times: Why Australia should be worried about NSW\u2019s cricket problem"},"content":{"rendered":"

By <\/span>Andrew Wu<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

NSW\u2019s most recent Test debutant was in 2019.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Stephen Kiprillis<\/cite><\/p>\n

Save articles for later<\/h3>\n

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.<\/p>\n

With six players in the Australian men\u2019s Test XI, NSW\u2019s shopfront window is full. But the stock on the floor is running bare and has been for several years.<\/p>\n

The Blues have not produced a Test debutant since Kurtis Patterson in early 2019 \u2013 almost five years ago \u2013 nor a 20-Test player since Josh Hazlewood broke through in the baggy green in 2014.<\/p>\n

Apart from paceman Sean Abbott, they do not have a player pushing for a Test debut.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Kurtis Patterson celebrates his maiden Test ton in 2019.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n

It\u2019s cause for concern for the man in charge of maintaining NSW as the breadbasket of Australian cricket.<\/p>\n

But the state\u2019s head of cricket, Greg Mail, is adamant a recent overhaul of the coaching structure will keep the state as the leading producer of players for future national teams.<\/p>\n

\u201c[There\u2019s been] eight or nine debutants since Kurtis Patterson, to not have one of those from NSW is an obvious concern for us,\u201d Mail told this masthead.<\/p>\n

The recent PM\u2019s XI, effectively an Australia A side, did not feature a single NSW player, though Abbott would likely have been included had he not been on national duty in India with the Twenty20 team. In 2018, an entirely different national selection panel named an Australia A squad to tour India featuring only one Blue.<\/p>\n

The problems in the state are yet to manifest on the international stage though former Test captain Mark Taylor said in March 2021, after NSW capitulations for 32 and 64 (the latter coming in a miraculous win), he feared a \u201cserious batting void\u201d was approaching if they could not provide replacements for David Warner and Steve Smith.<\/p>\n

Australian cricket has traditionally been at its strongest when NSW have been strong.<\/p>\n

The Australian teams of the 1990s that toppled the West Indies from the pinnacle of world cricket were built on a NSW core of Taylor, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Michael Slater, Glenn McGrath and Michael Bevan (in one-day internationals).<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Former Australian Test captains Steve Waugh, Michael Clarke and Mark Taylor.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n

The emergence of Brett Lee, Michael Clarke, Stuart MacGill and Stuart Clark continued that domination into the late 2000s. Pace trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and batting greats Smith and Warner played in both of Australia\u2019s recent Test and 50-over world titles.<\/p>\n

Domestically, though, NSW have hit lean times. Bottom of the Sheffield Shield table last season, the Blues, who have lost stalwarts Peter Nevill, Trent Copeland and Stephen O\u2019Keefe to retirement in the past four years, endured a run of 15 games without a win and finished fifth in the one-day tournament.<\/p>\n

Players have not developed as expected. Nobody has personified NSW\u2019s flagging fortunes more than Patterson, who made a ton in his last Test in 2019 but cannot get a game for his state after an ill-fated stint as captain where he was unable to find the balance between meeting the needs of teammates and his own.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe came to that conclusion himself,\u201d Mail said. \u201cIn KP\u2019s case, that wasn\u2019t helping his output and he was looking for a fresh start. Captaincy doesn\u2019t sit well with everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2017, aged 18 years and 71 days, Jason Sangha became the youngest batter since Sachin Tendulkar to score a first-class ton against England, in a tour match in Townsville. Six years later, he has scored just three more centuries and has an average of 27.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jason Sangha celebrates his ton against England in 2017.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n

All-rounder Jack Edwards is another who has been heavily invested in with inconsistent results, though has taken big steps forward this season with bat and ball.<\/p>\n

The overall lack of development by players was a key factor in former Test opener Phil Jaques\u2019 dismissal as coach 12 months ago after the Blues had won just one of their first 10 games of the season.<\/p>\n

Under Jaques, who declined to comment when contacted by this masthead, the Blues won one Shield and a Marsh Cup and played off in three other domestic finals in his four full seasons at the helm.<\/p>\n

The dearth of players below the elite core pushing through had been an issue even before Jaques\u2019 appointment in June 2018.<\/p>\n

Mail is confident the Blues\u2019 new coaching panel, helmed by one of Australia\u2019s most successful domestic coaches Greg Shipperd, will deliver. The appointments of Geoff Lawson and Stuart Clark, both of whom have strong views, as selectors have created robust discussions at the selection table.<\/p>\n

Though Edwards and Sangha had become lightning rods among critics who believed NSW had tipped too heavily in favour of youth, Mail denied suggestions players had been picked on potential over performance but accepted previous selection panels needed to be tougher.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Jack Edwards in action for the Sixers in the Big Bash.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n

\u201cI would say that we\u2019ve previously been criticised for not acting quickly enough when players haven\u2019t performed,\u201d Mail said. \u201cFrankly, some of that criticism is fair, things have been allowed to drift for longer than they should have. I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve been firm enough.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know why that was the case. This is the first year I\u2019m on the panel. We\u2019ve rebuilt the panel with an intention of strong cricket experience, passion for NSW and strong views. I think we\u2019re seeing some of that play out in the team and in the performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mail said the effect of the Blues\u2019 \u201cnomadic\u201d existence had also been underestimated, with home games played at the SCG, suburban venues in Bankstown and Drummoyne, and away from Sydney in Wollongong and Albury. This had not helped the team or the development of young players, Mail said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll are solid cricket venues but when you\u2019re playing at a different place every week it\u2019s hard to build that home advantage.\u201d <\/p>\n

The Blues are now splitting games between the SCG and the ground at their new state-of-the-art $60 million Cricket Central facility at Sydney Olympic Park.<\/p>\n

With two wins from their last three Shield games before the break for the Big Bash, there is hope the 47-time Shield champions have turned the corner.<\/p>\n

While veterans Chris Tremain and Jackson Bird have added bite to their attack, youngsters such as Ollie Davies, Jack Nisbet and Edwards have played key roles.<\/p>\n

Mail refused to entertain discussions as to which Blues could become future 50-Test players but listed Abbott, Davies and leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha, who was in India with Australia\u2019s white-ball sides, as their \u201cbest short- and medium-term options\u201d.<\/p>\n

Emboldened by having six members of Australia\u2019s under-19 World Cup squad for next year, Mail is adamant NSW will be pulling their weight in their contribution to future senior national teams.<\/p>\n

Of that group, Sam Konstas made his Shield debut last month, and Charlie Anderson has been picked in NSW\u2019s second XI. Mail said batter Joel Davies was another who had potential to rise to the top, having already signed for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are incredibly proud of our history and contribution to Australian teams,\u201d Mail said. \u201cThat stretches back a long way.<\/p>\n

\u201cAm I concerned in five years time we won\u2019t be contributing? The answer to that is no. I\u2019m convinced we have solid foundations to continue that legacy of cricket in NSW and the players it produces.\u201d<\/p>\n

Come back on Friday for part three in our series and read part one here.<\/strong><\/p>\n

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. <\/i><\/b>Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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