They’re the reigning Dean Jones Trophy holders, but incoming New South Wales coach Brad Haddin understands it’s their Sheffield Shield results on which his side will be judged this season.

The Blues have finished in the top half of the Shield standings just once in the past five seasons and are the only state not to play in the final in that period.

In fact, NSW haven’t won a red-ball final in almost two decades; they were awarded the 2019-20 title as the top-ranked team when the Covid pandemic hit and drew the 2013-14 decider against Western Australia to claim the Shield.

NSW squad for opening One-Day Cup match v Queensland: Lachlan Shaw (c), Sean Abbott, Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Bryce Jackson, Riley Kingsell, Nic Maddinson, Jack Nisbet, Kurtis Patterson, Will Salzmann, Tanveer Sangha, Jake Scott, Charlie Stobo

Haddin took over the job with a mandate to “challenge for further titles”. It’s no secret it’s Shield wins that are expected given ousted mentor Greg Shipperd led the state to a one-day triumph in March after being informed his services wouldn’t be required beyond the end of last season.

NSW have won just 11 four-day matches in the five years since they last played in the final in 2020-21. And none of those have been at their new Cricket Central base in western Sydney, which has yielded five draws and an innings loss to Tasmania since it opened in late 2023.

It’s a troubling trend not lost on their new head coach.

“Everyone goes into the season with high expectations, especially in four-day cricket,” Haddin said. “That’s one of the things, when I’ve come in, that was really important to everyone, is that we start to get our four-day cricket right (and) we start to find ways to win.

“We haven’t won a game on our home track at Cricket Central, so we’ve got to find ways to make our home track a place that we dominate – you’ve got to win your home games.”

Haddin also wants new Blues in the national team.

Men’s season previews

 

NSW | Queensland | South Australia

 

Tasmania | Victoria | Western Australia

While they regularly boast almost half of the Australian Test XI in Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood, Sam Konstas has been the only NSW player to earn a Baggy Green cap in the past seven years.

And prior to Jack Edwards and Joel Davies’ T20I debuts earlier this year, their last men’s white-ball debutant was Tanveer Sangha in 2023.

“It’s important that we do play really good Shield cricket. It’s important that we get players performing at a level that they get considered for Australia, so both those go hand-in-hand.”

NSW have four players currently with the Australia A squad in India (Edwards, Liam Hatcher, Konstas and Josh Philippe) with three more (Ben Dwarshuis, Sangha and Lachlan Shaw) to join the A one-day squad in early October.

Sheffield Shield 2025-26: Hatcher leads the way with 44 wickets

Haddin inherits a stable squad for his first season, with former Western Australia fast bowler Bryce Jackson and destructive rookie batter Harjas Singh the only additions.

Meanwhile, Australian white-ball spinner Adam Zampa has shifted his state base to Queensland and Matthew Gilkes has moved to South Australia.

“Looking at the group from different angles and watching from afar, I don’t think this group fully understands how good a cricket team they could be,” Haddin said.

“It’s just basically putting training around that and challenging the group not to undersell themselves. If we can unlock some of that potential in the group, they’ll have very successful careers individually and as a team for NSW.”

2026-27 squad

Head coach: Brad Haddin

 

Squad: Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins*, Joel Davies, Oliver Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Ryan Hadley, Liam Hatcher, Josh Hazlewood*, Ryan Hicks, Bryce Jackson, Riley Kingsell, Sam Konstas, Nathan Lyon*, Nic Maddinson, Jack Nisbet, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Will Salzmann, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw, Steve Smith*, Mitchell Starc*, Charlie Stobo

 

Rookies: Charlie Anderson, Jake Scott, Harjas Singh

 

Ins: Bryce Jackson (WA), Harjas Singh, Riley Kingsell (upgraded rookie), Ryan Hicks (upgraded rookie)

 

Outs: Adam Zampa (Queensland), Matthew Gilkes (SA), Blake Nikitaras, Chris Tremain (retired)

 

* Denotes Cricket Australia contract

Last season

Sheffield Shield: Fifth

 

One-Day Cup: Champions

Tasmania v New South Wales | One-Day Cup Final

Possible XIs

For first one-day game (v Queensland, September 22): Nic Maddinson, Will Salzmann, Kurtis Patterson, Lachlan Shaw (c), Oliver Davies, Riley Kingsell, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Bryce Jackson, Jack Nisbet, Tanveer Sangha

 

Sheffield Shield (at full strength): Sam Konstas, Will Salzmann, Kurtis Patterson, Steve Smith, Nic Maddinson (c), Josh Philippe (wk), Jack Edwards, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Players in representative squads

Australian ODI (Sep 15-30): Joel Davies, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jack Edwards

 

Australian Test (Oct 9-31): Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc

 

Australia A four-day (Sep 22-Oct 2): Jack Edwards, Liam Hatcher, Sam Konstas, Josh Philippe

 

Australia A one-day (Oct 6-11): Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Sam Konstas, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan Shaw

Inside word with new Blues coach Brad Haddin
New captains

NSW have a set of new men’s captains this season with Nic Maddinson taking charge of the Shield team and young gun Shaw to lead the one-day side. The pair replaced allrounder Edwards who has stepped back from captaincy duties to focus on his performance and managing his workloads.

Maddinson missed all of the 2025-26 Shield season after overcoming testicular cancer last year, playing just five matches for Sydney Thunder plus a NSW Second XI fixture across the entire summer.

He has returned to full health and fitness ahead of the 2026-27 campaign and is set to lead the Blues for the first time since 2016.

“Everything about the way we want to play and the game style, how he holds himself in the group, and more importantly, how the players see Nic, he’s just been an obvious choice from that point of view,” Haddin said.

Details on new NSW skippers as Edwards shifts focus

“We’ve got some really good young leaders around the group – really good cricket brains – but the one thing I was really keen on was to develop new leaders.

“Lachie’s been very impressive since day one. He’s a high-quality player, has a great cricket IQ and he’s one of those guys that people gravitate to.

“I thought we needed to have a look at a few different options for our leadership, and both (Shaw and Maddinson) fit that perfectly.”

Patterson pushing for higher honours

Experienced left-hander Kurtis Patterson had a stunning 2025-26 summer and filled in for Edwards when he relinquished the captaincy. The Test-capped batter hit two Shield centuries in his 619 runs last season. His one-day form was even more impressive, averaging 113 with three centuries and three half-centuries – the best average in the competition’s history for a batter with eight innings or more in a season.

Patterson was awarded the Michael Bevan Medal for his unbeaten 52 to beat Tasmania in the final, while his 565 runs for the tournament was the fifth highest tally for a single One-Day Cup season behind Phil Jaques (683 in 2005-06), Brad Hodge (622 in ’09-10), Mark Cosgrove (591 in ’05-06) and Stuart Law (570 in ’03-04) when the competition consisted of a 10-game regular season.

Patterson crunches 68-ball ton to continue purplest of patches

Haddin has been excited about coaching Patterson since taking over the Blues role and said this season he “just want(s) ‘KP’ to play”.

“His game is as sharp as I’ve ever seen it. If he can start the season well, I’m not sure where KP ends up … because there are batting spots available (for Australia), I think, if he gets runs,” Haddin added.

Opening partnership

With Maddinson missing from their Shield side last season, NSW battled to lock down a consistent opening partner for Konstas, who was the state’s top run-scorer with 660 at an average 33 from 20 innings.

Blake Nikitaras started the 2025-26 campaign at the top but was dropped after two matches before ultimately losing his contract at the end of the season. Allrounder Will Salzmann then impressed as an opener with scores of 65 and 31no before seriously injuring his hamstring while fielding in round four and missing their next three games.

Reserve wicketkeeper Ryan Hicks and Gilkes also had a go before Salzmann returned when the Shield season resumed after the Big Bash.

“We’ve got some good options up the top of the order,” Haddin said when asked who could partner Konstas. “Will (Salzmann) did it with a bit of success last year … and has got an impressive technique that suits the top of the order.

“We’ve obviously got Sammy (Konstas), we know what he can do and how dynamic he can be. ‘Maddo’s’ had opportunities up there and he’ll probably tell me where he wants to bat as captain.”

Injury list

Fast bowler Ryan Hadley is sidelined indefinitely as he recovers from a lower back stress fracture suffered during the preseason. The right-armer will have scans in October before a timeline for his return can be determined.

The rest of the Blues’ unavailable players to start the season are due to representative commitments with Davies in South Africa with the ODI squad and Edwards, Hatcher, Philippe and Konstas part of Australia A’s four-day series against India A. 

Pace recruit Jackson, young batter Riley Kingsell and rookie allrounder Jake Scott have been included in the squad for their opening two one-day matches (against Queensland and Victoria) and would make their NSW debuts if selected.