“I can’t believe it”: Mike Whitney blasts Cricket NSW after Sheffield Shield champions leave them embarrassed.

Iconic former NSW fast bowler Mike Whitney has expressed disappointment over Cricket NSW’s inability to keep hold of elite players, lamenting the dramatic decline of the Blues’ once-formidable pipeline of Test cricketers.

Whitney was left shaking his head as he watched several players who had moved on from Cricket NSW playing pivotal roles in South Australia’s consecutive Sheffield Shield victories in Melbourne on Monday.

“I thought to myself, ‘Wow! There are six former Blues players out there. It’s unbelievable!'” Whitney shared with Wide World of Sports.

The six ex-NSW players who celebrated Sheffield Shield success with the Redbacks at the Junction Oval were Henry Hunt, Liam Scott, Nathan McAndrew, Jason Sangha, Henry Thornton, and Ben Manenti. All of them began their careers in NSW, honing their skills in the competitive Sydney grade cricket scene before flourishing as first-class cricketers interstate.

Nathan McAndrew’s journey has been particularly compelling, whether inspiring or disheartening based on one’s geographical perspective. After toiling for his place in the NSW Sheffield Shield side throughout his 20s without success, the right-arm quick decided to relocate to South Australia.

He made his Shield debotch with the Redbacks during the 2021-22 season at the age of 28. Since then, no pace bowler has participated in more Shield matches than McAndrew with 42 appearances, and he leads all bowlers, including spinners, with 181 wickets at an impressive average of 23.52. He has also tallied 11 five-wicket hauls and recorded a ten-wicket match.

This season, he was named man of the match in the final, taking six wickets across two innings and contributing a gritty half-century.

“New South Wales needs to assess the success of these former NSW cricketers in South Australia and ask themselves, ‘How did we let these talented players slip away? Why didn’t we see their potential and why have we lost so many of them?'” Whitney remarked.

“I can’t provide an explanation for that. It’s baffling to me.

“I think there are some individuals in NSW cricket circles who are probably scratching their heads, wondering how we could allow so many players to leave.”

Having played in four championship-winning NSW Shield teams during the 1980s and 1990s, Whitney reflects on the current situation with dismay. No state has amassed as many Shield titles as NSW’s 47, with Victoria trailing behind with 32. However, the Blues haven’t won a Shield title since the 2019-20 season and have not reached a final since 2020-21, finishing second-last in the recent season.

“It’s difficult for me to come to terms with that,” Whitney admitted.

Beyond the six ex-NSW players achieving success with South Australia, many others have also found their footing elsewhere after leaving Sydney grade clubs to thrive as first-class cricketers. Among them is Nathan Ellis, a Tasmanian speedster who has steadily made his mark in Australia’s white-ball teams since relocating to the south.

A prevailing sentiment suggests that the prioritisation of players within Cricket NSW’s pathways system over high-performing Sydney grade cricketers has contributed to the exodus of talent from the state.

In 2023, former NSW and Australian Test quick Stuart Clark criticised the state body for being “overly focused on selecting 19-year-olds rather than those who demonstrate readiness to play.” Clark has since joined the board of Cricket NSW.

Whitney has long been sceptical of Cricket NSW’s pathways policy.

“A young talent might be recognised at 14, 15, or 16, leading to substantial resources being allocated to them,” Whitney observed. “They may have shown great promise as a teenager, but as they mature, sheer talent alone won’t get them there. They must demonstrate resilience, diligence, and a consistent desire to perform.”

“Because so many resources are invested in a particular player, there’s an inclination to give them opportunities, even when performance doesn’t warrant it. There’s a fear of admitting a mistake in player selection, which can lead to valuable talent being overlooked.”

“I’ve witnessed players in grade cricket scoring heavily year after year, yet they remain outside the pathways system because they developed later than their peers,” he added. “They become excellent players, but the pathways door was never opened for them.”

Whitney suspects that Cricket NSW attempts to justify its pathways program by awarding players who come through the system baggy blue caps, while disregarding high-performing grade cricketers who should be selected based on merit.

“Absolutely,” asserts the former Australian Test representative. “This has been a long-standing issue.”

It’s a common refrain in Australian cricket that when a baggy blue is presented, a baggy green usually follows, owing to NSW cricket’s dominance in Test selections.

However, of the 24 Australians who have debuted in Tests since 2017, a mere two hailed from the Blues: Kurtis Patterson and Sam Konstas.

“We’re not producing the quality of players we ought to be, and some who have moved on are performing at levels we aspire to,” Whitney remarked. “It’s rather absurd.”

Brad Haddin, recently appointed head coach of the NSW Blues following the mid-season dismissal of Greg Shipperd, has publicly committed to revitalising Cricket NSW’s previously revered production line of Test cricketers.

“New South Wales is in a bit of a stagnant phase at the moment,” Whitney noted. “We’ve just parted ways with our coach, players are leaving to find opportunities elsewhere, and we have a new coach coming in. I hope we see some changes regarding the Shield team’s performance.”