Cricket NSW: Blues squad confirmed for season 2024/25

A further seven NSW players – Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa – earned Cricket Australia contracts for 2024/25 and form part of the broader Blues group.

David Warner drops off that CA list with his full international retirement pending the ICC T20 World Cup later this year.

As announced last week, leading the list of newcomers to the Blues’ are Australian representative players Nic Maddinson and Josh Philippe.

Top order batter Maddinson, born and bred in NSW, returns home after six seasons with Victoria, while wicketkeeper/batter Philippe is well known to NSW fans having played six seasons for the Sydney Sixers in the BBL.

The pair are joined on the list by prodigious teenager Sam Konstas, who made his Shield debut last year while still completing his HSC before helping Australia to the ICC U19 World Cup title in February.

Ryan Hicks and Charlie Anderson, Konstas’ teammates in the world cup triumph, have earned rookie contracts and will sit on the rookie list alongside Will Salzmann, Joel Davies and Lachlan Shaw.

Jack Nisbet has been promoted from the rookie list and earned a full contract.

Jason Sangha has elected to pursue further opportunities with another state, while the players not offered a contract from last summer’s list include Baxter Holt, Ross Pawson, Blake Macdonald and rookie Hunar Verma.

CNSW Chief of Cricket Performance Greg Mail thanked the departing players.

“Each of those players have given wholehearted support to the Blues program and it is difficult to see them depart,” Mail said.

“We wish each of them the best in the next steps of their cricketing journeys.”

Mail said the signings of Philippe and Maddinson added some high-quality depth to the Blues’ squad.

“Players of the calibre of Josh (Philippe) and Nic (Maddinson) don’t become available every season and we are extremely happy to welcome them into the group,” Mail said.

“Both bring a number of strengths and wealth of experience and they will help the balance and depth of our squad. We have a really solid group of experienced senior players that can aid in the growth of our emerging talent.

“As a squad we made some big steps forward this summer and we are looking forward to continuing on that trajectory next season.”

Mail also said the progression of Konstas and Nisbet to full contracts and the awarding of rookie contracts to Hicks and Anderson showed that the player pathway and development continued to be a priority for Cricket NSW.

“Sam (Konstas) and Jack (Nisbet) both confirmed their talent and development at the domestic level last season and are deserving of their elevation to full contracts,” Mail said.

“By the same account, Ryan Hicks and Charlie Anderson showed internationally at under 19 level and then through weight of consistency at Premier Cricket level that they were ready for rookie contracts and a full-time professional opportunity.”

The Blues will return to training at Cricket Central in June.

NSW Blues Squad 2024/25: