For a team that found itself at possibly its lowest ebb in history only 18
months ago, New South Wales has done a remarkable job in retrieving the
situation. Less than two years on from those dark days, the Blues will
enter a new domestic season not just as defending one-day champions but
also secure in the knowledge that they are backing up a fine first-class
summer too.
Crucially, the tension between administrators and players that spilled to
the surface back then - not to mention some simmering resentment over the
team's leadership structure - has been quelled. Even more impressively,
the transition has occurred without much evidence of blood-letting or
recrimination.
The result at the end of all is a squad not only brimming with confidence
and expectation again but also one blessed with an impressive set of
resources.
It is by no means an accident of fate that the starting point of the
turnaround coincided with the return to the state of coach Steve Rixon,
whose ability to effectively identify and develop young talent has long
been exceptional. His direction over the team was profoundly important
last summer, and will continue to prove so again.
Where this squad was once struggling for depth and experience in the
absence of its international representatives, it no longer encounters the
same problem. Greg Mail and Michael Clarke have emerged as batsmen of
immense potential; Nathan Bracken and Don Nash have become frontline pace
bowlers; Brad Haddin adds hearty aggression with the bat to his qualities
as a wicketkeeper; and Mark Higgs is emerging as one of the country's best
young all-rounders.
Throw in to the mix the notion that now-erstwhile Australian players Stuart
MacGill and Michael Slater might be available for much of the summer and
suddenly it's not difficult to see that captain Shane Lee has a welter of
riches at his disposal.
Perhaps the most crucial player of all to the Blues' plans, though, remains
Michael Bevan. Barring injury, he's certain to be confined to one-day
international commitments during January and February, of course.
But this season's schedule should allow him to play at least 11 of the
Blues' games. And possibly up to 16, depending on exactly when Australia
plans to fly its one-day squad into South Africa in March.
Bevan was the key behind the state's Mercantile Mutual Cup triumph last
summer - its first title for seven years - and should lead another
concerted assault again. Just possibly, he might be the man to force
enough positive results to have the Blues heading in the direction of a
Pura Cup Final too.
Lying before New South Wales is the chance to forge another era of
sustained success. If it transpires, given all the drama of the late
1990s, then it's a certainty that ascendancy will rarely have tasted so
sweet.
The key player: The ever-unlucky Stuart MacGill looks no closer to a
regular spot in Australia's team than he did when his international career
began four years ago now. That said, his presence in its team for a large
number of games this season means New South Wales is likely to be a real
beneficiary of his misfortune in being cast in the role of playing second
fiddle to Shane Warne. An excellent leg spinner, he broke a longstanding
record by taking the most wickets in a single domestic one-day season last
time around. As his rise to giddy heights on the Blues' list of all-time
wicket-takers continues, he can be expected to exert a decisive impact in
both forms of the game again.
The up-and-comer: Young batsman Phil Jaques will likely need to cool his
heels during the first month of the season, when the battle for batting
positions will be at its most intense. But, once the duties of the Blues'
international representatives take them elsewhere, he has a genuine chance
of establishing himself. Not necessarily powerfully built but hits the
ball with great authority and is equally at home on the front and back foot.
The draw: The Blues will face another hectic start to the summer, cramming
four first-class and five limited-overs games into the first two months of
their program. In theory, that's not a bad thing, though, because each of
their opening four games is played at home and this is also the only part
of the season during which the bulk of Australia's international
representatives will be available. In a reverse of last year's draw, only
one of the Blues' last five games this season is played at home, which adds
to the impression that a good beginning to the summer is probably crucial.
Predicted Pura Cup finishing position: 2nd
Predicted ING Cup finishing position: 1st
