IF you needed any more evidence that NSW is carrying this nation's cricketing hopes, look no further than Australia's new one-day international squad announced yesterday.
"Queenslander" Peter Forrest was a key selection, but he grew up in Windsor and played his junior cricket for Hawkesbury.
Tasmania alone have six Blues imports who would walk into a second NSW team.
Ed Cowan attended exclusive Sydney school Cranbrook and played for the Blues before heading to Tasmania and earning a Test call-up.
He plays alongside fellow NSW-bred players Steve Cazzulino, Jason Krejza, Brendan Drew, Jackson Bird and Rhett Lockyear for Tasmania.
South Australia claims Dan Christian as one of its own, as well as other young Blues Tom Cooper and Aaron O'Brien.
Christian will play in the Twenty20 international at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night but was a promising junior rugby league player at St Gregory's College alongside the Storm's Ryan Hoffman.
Tasmania alone have six Blues imports who would walk into a second NSW team.
Ed Cowan attended exclusive Sydney school Cranbrook and played for the Blues before heading to Tasmania and earning a Test call-up.
He plays alongside fellow NSW-bred players Steve Cazzulino, Jason Krejza, Brendan Drew, Jackson Bird and Rhett Lockyear for Tasmania.
South Australia claims Dan Christian as one of its own, as well as other young Blues Tom Cooper and Aaron O'Brien.
Christian will play in the Twenty20 international at ANZ Stadium tomorrow night but was a promising junior rugby league player at St Gregory's College alongside the Storm's Ryan Hoffman.
Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert holds no grudges.
"All we're missing is a keeper, although Tom Cooper could do the job," Gilbert said.
"For Peter, the move to Queensland has been very good for him. We're disappointed he left, but his game has certainly developed over the course of this year, so full credit to him."
Forrest knew it would be tough to cement a spot with Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja and David Warner vying for Test places this time last year.
"It was a no-brainer," Forrest said about linking with Queensland. "I remember the last time I got dropped and I remember my (one-day) stats.
"I was averaging 41 and striking at 88 (per 100 balls) and that still wasn't good enough to get in the team. It was extremely frustrating.
"I think they saw me as a top-order player, but when you have guys like Hughesy, Khawaja and Warner, and Simon Katich, who all bat up the top, it was hard to find a spot.
"I don't hold anything against NSW. They have a wealth of talent down there and I wasn't good enough to crack it."
The Sydney Sixers, who are made up of predominantly Blues-contracted players, proved the good times show no signs of slowing down in NSW when they won the inaugural Big Bash League on Saturday night against the Perth Scorchers
Source:http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/nsw-carrying-australian-cricket/story-fn67w6pa-1226257713869
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