The New South Wales Blues (referred to as the Speed Blitz Blues[1] for sponsorship purposes) are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales. The team competes in the first class competition the Pura Cup, which was formerly known as the Sheffield Shield, the limited oversFord Ranger Cup, and the Twenty20 competition known as the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash. They are by far the most successful domestic cricket side in Australia having won the First-class competition 44 times. In addition, they've also won the One-Day Domestic cup 9 times. They occasionally play first-class matches against touring International sides. New South Wales have played teams representing every test playing nation bar Bangladesh. They have provided the Australian Test and One Day International teams with some of the finest players ever to have graced the game of cricket.
Notable Players
The following is a list of notable players who have represented both New South Wales and Australia.
The following players are also New South Wales squad members however their commitments to the national team mean that they don't appear as frequently for the Blues as other squad members.[3][4]
New South Wales' 2007-08 season commenced with a Ford Ranger Cup match, losing by 1 run against the Retravision Warriors at the WACA on October 122007.[5] While in Western Australia, they defeated WA in their first Pura Cup fixture of the season. The Blues will also be out to avenge their disappointing showing in last year's KFC Twenty20 Big Bash when they start their 07/08 campaign against the Southern Redbacks at Adelaide Oval on January 1 2008. In encouraging news for Blues fans, the earlier scheduling of the domestic tournament means the Blues regular Australian squad members will play several of the first matches of the season, barring injury.
Their first home game is scheduled for October 24, 2007 where the Blues will take on the Queensland Bulls in the Ford Ranger Cup.
James Packman
