NSW have been carrying Aussie cricket for years

Queenslander Bulls batsman Peter Forrest was a key selection, but he grew up in Windsor and played his junior cricket for Hawkesbury.

Tasmania, meanwhile, have six Blues imports.

Ed Cowan attended Cranbrook and played for the Blues before heading to Tasmania and earning a Test call-up.

He plays alongside NSW-bred players Steve Cazzulino,Brendan Drew, Jackson Bird, Rhett Lockyear and former Australia spinner Jason Krejza.

South Australia claim Dan Christian as one of their own, as well as other young Blues Tom Cooper and Aaron O’Brien.

But Christian once was a promising junior rugby league player, alongside Melbourne Storm’s Ryan Hoffman, at St Gregory’s College.

“All we’re missing is a keeper, although Tom Cooper could do the job,” Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said when asked about a Blues “second XI”.

“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 in the Blues side, 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.”

New South Wales are fifth of six teams on both the Sheffield Shield and Ryobi One-Day Cup tables, but Sydney Sixers, a side of predominantly Blues-contracted players, defeated Perth Scorchers in the inaugural KFC T20 Big Final at the WACA Ground.

New South Wales’Second XI’

  • Ed Cowan (Tasmania)
  • Steve Cazzulino (Tasmania)
  • Peter Forrest (Queensland)
  • Daniel Christian (South Australia)
  • Tom Cooper (South Australia)
  • Aaron O’Brien (South Australia)
  • John Hastings (Victoria)
  • Jason Krezja (Tasmania)
  • Michael Hogan (Western Australia)
  • Brendan Drew (Tasmania)
  • Jackson Bird (Tasmania)

Twelfth Man

  • Rhett Lockyear (Tasmania)

Buford Balony says: NSW have been carrying Aussie cricket since the early 90’s, but I bet the other states will start denying this, but go through the list of Aussie players since 1990 and NSW has shit loads more players & games played for Oz.

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