By Tom Decent
In December last year, NSW Blues coach Greg Shipperd received a congratulatory text from Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon after his side’s 341-run win over an inexperienced Queensland team in the final Sheffield Shield match before the Big Bash break.
“Well done to you and the team Shippy,” Germon wrote. “That was an excellent win and more than the result, the manner and style in which the victory occurred was really pleasing and great to see.”
Incoming NSW Blues coach Brad Haddin. Credit: Janie Barrett
Less than eight weeks later, Germon delivered a very different message in person: Shipperd’s time was up. His services would no longer be required as coach of either the Blues or the Sydney Sixers, his two-year deal effectively cut in half. Shipperd, however, was under no illusions that his performance had been under the microscope.
Brad Haddin’s official unveiling on Wednesday as NSW’s new head coach – just 17 hours after the final ball of the season was bowled a few metres away at Cricket Central – signalled the start of a new era for an organisation Germon conceded had endured a “challenging period”.
It has been navigating the fallout from a disgruntled incumbent and the re-emergence of a former Test star keen to return to the system he once was entrenched in.
“One thing we’ve always done here at NSW is hold high standards,” Haddin said on Wednesday. “I’m going to be no different with that. I’m going to expect a lot from this group. I think we’ve got an opportunity here to find some generational talent.”
Brad Haddin on media duty during a Test against India in November 2024.Credit: Getty Images
Haddin, a CNSW life member who played 97 first-class matches for NSW and 66 Tests for Australia, had long been the front-runner. His appointment was one of the worst-kept secrets in Australian cricket, having been spotted at CNSW headquarters since Shipperd was told in late January he would not be retained beyond the season.
The timing of the decision, mid-season, raised eyebrows. Just days after Germon declared in a press release that “we felt it was time to move in a new direction to give the Blues and Sixers the best chance to win titles”, NSW went on to win the One-Day Cup, defeating Tasmania in Hobart.
The final days of Shipperd’s tenure were marked by awkward symbolism and internal tension.
As play unfolded against Western Australia earlier this week, Cricket NSW board members began arriving at Cricket Central for a meeting that would formalise Haddin’s appointment.
At the same time, Shipperd was staging a pointed farewell of his own.
On Monday night, he carried the one-day trophy out of the NSW coaches room, intending to use it as a prop in his final address to players the next day. Coincidentally, he walked past the boardroom where Haddin was pitching his final case.
“I didn’t see Greg parading the trophy around,” Germon said on Wednesday.
The following day, Shipperd placed the trophy on a green stool in the middle of the NSW dressing room before delivering an emotional send-off speech after a tense draw. It was a gesture aimed at the administrators who had speared him.
Privately, however, many within CNSW are ready to move on. Some weren’t impressed with Shipperd’s antics.
Greg Shipperd was shown the door by NSW.Credit: Getty Images
Since Shipperd took on the Blues role full-time in 2023, NSW have finished third, fourth and fifth in the six-team Sheffield Shield, while placing second, third and first in the one-day competition.
His tenure with the Sixers was more decorated: two titles and nine finals appearances in 11 seasons and 145 matches.
While play was still in progress on Tuesday, assistants Ali de Winter and Shawn Bradstreet were informed by head of cricket Greg Mail that they would not be retained next season.
Haddin is expected to assemble a new support staff, including former NSW players Peter Forrest and Dan Smith, while discussions are ongoing with a former Test fast bowler.
The handling of the assistants’ departures drew criticism from former NSW spinner Stephen O’Keefe, who labelled the timing “brutal”.
“It’s very difficult to find a perfect time to have these conversations,” Germon said. “I can understand that perspective.”
Pressed on whether he regretted either the public messaging around Shipperd’s exit or the decision to extend his tenure on a two-year deal in June last year, Germon was unequivocal.
“No regret at all. I think the line was about sustainable success and challenging for titles over time, and of course winning titles,” Germon said. “We’ve got into some positions where we could have won and haven’t crossed the line.”
Cricket NSW boss Lee Germon on Wednesday in Sydney. Credit: Janie Barrett
Haddin’s priority is clear: produce more Australian Test players and restore NSW’s standing as the country’s premier talent factory.
Since 2016, only two Blues – Kurtis Patterson and Sam Konstas – have made their debuts in Test cricket.
“I’m under no illusions that I’ve got to start to produce some Australian players,” Haddin said. “I actually don’t think they know how good they are yet, and that’s what excites me. I don’t want to put a ceiling on some of these kids.
“If I didn’t come back now, I don’t think I ever would. This is where I think I can make the biggest influence.”
Germon acknowledged the Blues have underperformed relative to their resources, with two Sheffield Shield titles in the past 17 seasons despite drawing from the country’s largest talent pools.
He said NSW produces about 40 per cent of Australia’s underage representatives, but too few have made the leap to international level. NSW has been well represented in Australia A teams, however.
“I don’t think we’ve probably done that as well as we should have,” Germon said.
“[Brad is] a coach I believe will galvanise our cricket family around NSW.”
As Shipperd considers his legal options – he believes he is entitled to a payout – the Haddin era is underway. Expectations are high, standards will tighten and players have been warned to brace for a new style from a coach who is jetting off to the IPL on Thursday.
“What’s been surprising since my name was floated for this job is the connection from the past players, supporters of grade cricket and the players in the squad,” Haddin said. “I’ve had a lot of nice messages from players in the squad.”
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