Former Australian Test representative Kurtis Patterson has been stood down as captain of the New South Wales Blues following last summer’s winless Sheffield Shield campaign.
The 30-year-old, who played two Tests for Australia in 2019, was dropped for the Blues’ final Sheffield Shield match against South Australia last season, with veteran all-rounder Moises Henriques leading the side in his absence.
Patterson scored his 11th first-class century in November last year, an unbeaten 122 against the Redbacks in Wollongong, but struggled with form after the Big Bash League break, finishing his Sheffield Shield campaign with 417 runs in nine matches at 29.78.
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Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon, newly-appointed NSW coach Greg Shipperd confirmed that Patterson would not lead the state in 2023/24, hoping the demotion would help revive his batting.
“That was a disappointing finish to the season for Kurtis,” Shipperd said.
“I’ve had contact with him today. We’ve identified some areas of his game and thinking. Losing the captaincy will allow him to concentrate fully on performing at his best.
“You can get consumed by captaincy, and he gave it a terrific shot, I’ve got to say. While he was there, it was team first and he second.
“We can flip that balance around next season and ensure we get him back playing as well as he’s ever played.”
The Blues failed to register a victory during their disappointing 2022/23 Sheffield Shield campaign, finishing the season with five defeats and five draws — many of which were rain-affected.
It marked the first time New South Wales didn’t win a first-class contest in a season since 1938/39, when the competition only had four teams, while the Blues’ winless streak extended to 12 consecutive matches — an unwanted state record.
Meanwhile, NSW narrowly avoided finishing bottom of the Marsh Cup ladder, registering just two wins from seven white-ball contests.
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Shipperd said the Blues haven’t settled on a new captain but flagged young guns Jason Sangha and Jack Edwards as potential candidates.
“We do have some internal candidates that I think could comfortably do the job, so it’s about when I get up to Sydney next, sitting down with (NSW head of performance Greg Mail) and the team and those candidates and make sure we get the best decision out of it,” Shipperd explained.
“The more leadership around the group, the better, but we haven’t settled on any decision at this point.”
The Blues announced their 2023/24 squad on Monday morning, with Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams becoming the latest cricketer to reject a state contract in favour of the global T20 circuit.
Sams, who has represented Australia in 10 T20Is since his international debut in 2020, was a notable absentee from the 33-player contract list, with Shipperd confessing it was becoming “difficult” for state teams to secure the services of white-ball specialists.
“Both groups arrived at a positive resolution,” Shipperd said.
“Daniel, when he’s in the state, will still be invited to training and participate in our white-ball program.
“The door is never shut for anyone with his talent. We encourage his involvement in our program going forward.
“It’s a juggling act, and we’re open-minded and flexible.”
Meanwhile, NSW spinner Chris Green earnt a maiden state contract after a breakout summer in the Sheffield Shield, scoring 290 runs at 41.42 and claiming 20 wickets at 23.05 in six appearances.
