High Performance Report

We finished season 2020/21 with a sense of relief that we wouldn’t have to face the same pandemic challenges again. As it turned out, season 2021/22 presented more challenges and complications than we could have imagined. CNSW staff and players are to be congratulated on the effort required to navigate a complex and difficult environment all summer. At the elite level, results on the field were not where we would have liked, with our teams participating in 2 of 5 finals and not winning a title. Congratulations must go to Western Australia on an amazingly successful summer. Our Australian men and women again represented us with distinction, with Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes starring in the World Cup triumph in NZ and Pat Cummins leading the men through gripping series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka on the back of the successful Ashes series at home.

The future of our Australian representation looks bright, with several of our young stars having successful personal seasons. Phoebe Litchfield, Maitlin Brown and Stella Campbell starred for the Breakers and Australia A and Jason Sangha, Tanveer Sangha and Hayden Kerr made significant strides across the three formats for our Men’s teams. With all borders except the one to Victoria closed, the Blues began the season in unusual fashion, playing Victoria in three back-to-back Sheffield Shield matches, more than a month after the rest of the competition had got underway, following failed attempts to enter South Australia and the Northern Territory via quarantine environments. This proved a significant challenge for Phil Jaques and the team, coming away from the three match series with two losses, one draw and a mountain to climb to get back into contention. The post-BBL series of matches proved more fruitful, notching wins against Queensland and Tasmania, but ultimately, we finished in fourth position. The One-Day Cup competition was truncated due to Covid and adverse weather, with the Blues qualifying for the final despite only playing two matches. Unfortunately, the Blues were unable to capitalise on a strong performance in the field, and despite several starts with the bat, fell 18 runs short of the 225-run target set by Western Australia. There were individual highlights for the Blues: Daniel Hughes, who showed immense physical and mental resilience to twice carry his bat in the Shield; Chris Tremain, who grasped his opportunity with the new ball after missing selection for the whole of the previous season, earning the coveted Steve Waugh Medal; Jason Sangha, who followed a strong BBL with consistent performances, including a century in his first match as captain deputising for Kurtis Patterson; and debutants Tanveer Sangha and Hayden Kerr both had break out seasons, managing to make an immediate impact at the top level.

Ash Gardner, Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes after winning the World Cup

Daniel Sams playing for Sydney Thunder

The Blues farewelled Peter Nevill who chose to call time on his illustrious career. Peter is one of only four players to play 100 Sheffield Shield matches for NSW and captained NSW more times than any other player. He leaves behind a significant legacy as a humble and trusted teammate, astute leader and inspiration to many. Our NSW Women finished the WNCL in third place, a stuttering run chase against Queensland meant they missed out on a spot in the final. The season started brightly, back-to-back wins against a strong Victorian side courtesy of strong batting performances from Rachael Haynes, Erin Burns, Alyssa Healy, Phoebe Litchfield, Ash Gardner and Tahlia Wilson, were punctuated with a steamrolling of the ACT side, Stella Campbell taking career best figures of 7-25 in bundling the opposition out for just 56. Momentum slowed in the post-WBBL part of the season, losses to Tasmania and Queensland saw the team miss the final. Erin Burns picked up the Belinda Clark Medal as the player of the season.

The WBBL was a real challenge for our teams. The program started with two weeks of hard quarantine in Hobart and required our teams to stay out of NSW for the entire two-month tournament. Players, coaches and support staff should be commended on their positive approach to tackling those challenges and managing to make the best of the extended time away. To add to those challenges, key players Erin Burns (Sixers) and Rachael Haynes (Thunder) were unable to join the teams, having spent time at home. On-field results didn’t go as we would have liked, with the teams finishing seventh and eighth. The Sixers were able to recognise significant milestones, with Alyssa Healy and coach Ben Sawyer celebrating 100 matches for the Club. Ben has left the Sixers and NSW to take an opportunity with the NZ Women’s team. We are excited to welcome English legend Charlotte Edwards as Head Coach for the next two seasons. Charlotte is an immensely respected figure in world cricket and we look forward to her involvement with the group. The BBL was also a significant challenge for players and staff, with increasing restrictions placed on the teams’ travel and activities through the tournament in order to keep the show on the road. Again, all involved should be congratulated on the resilience shown to make the best of the situation. We also managed to play some good cricket too.

The Sixers made yet another final to continue their form in the competition under Head Coach Greg Shipperd. The depth of the list was tested with scheduling and injury, but the team showed a lot of character to keep performing at such a high level. Hayden Kerr had a breakout tournament, taking 25 wickets and playing some crucial innings, including a match winning 98 (58) against Adelaide to book his side a spot in the finals. Ultimately the side were defeated by Perth in the final, to write another chapter in the rivalry between the clubs. The list looks in good shape for yet another tilt at the title in BBL|12. In coaching news, the Sixers have added Cameron White as an assistant to Greg Shipperd for the next two years. Cameron has a wealth of experience as a player and captain, and we look forward to adding his perspectives to the Sixers set up. The Thunder made the finals series for the second consecutive season, for the first time in their history. They finished the regular season in third place but were unable to get past Adelaide in the Knockout. New coach Trevor Bayliss and the team also showed great strength of character to navigate the tournament. Imports Sam Billings and Alex Hales were again strong contributors, while Jason Sangha made the most of his increased opportunities, making the no 3 spot his own after a couple of quiet seasons. Daniel Sams was also instrumental in some big wins, including a spectacular 98 (44) against the Renegades. Many of our younger players made good progress this year and the Thunder look well placed to go deep into the tournament next time around.

Peter Nevill announced his retirement

National Championships at an under 19 level were reintroduced to the program this year, having been cancelled due to border restrictions in 2020/21. This provided a great opportunity for our young talent to compete on the national stage. Our Metropolitan and ACT/Country NSW teams performed strongly, but were outplayed by Queensland who took home both titles. We were able to take an opportunity to send our Under 17 male team to compete at the Under 19 carnival, due to the absence of the CA XI. The boys played exceptionally well and finished third overall in a great sign for the emerging talent that exists here in NSW. CNSW had five representatives in the 15-man squad for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup held in the West Indies. Coach Anthony Clark and players Aidan Cahill, Corey Miller, Jack Nisbet, William Salzmann and Lachlan Shaw represented us well, reaching the semi-finals and ultimately finishing third. Overall, we didn’t finish where we would have liked on the field in 2021/22. That said, players and staff can be immensely proud of the effort and resilience shown given the challenges we faced across the season. We look forward to 2022/23 with high expectations.

Greg Mail

Chief of Cricket Performance

Phoebe Litchfield playing for the NSW Breakers

Stella Campbell raises the ball after taking 7/25 in a WNCL match against ACT

Will Salzmann celebrates a wicket at the ICC U19 World Cup