Assembly line stutters have made life difficult for NSW

For a long time in Australian domestic cricket, New South Wales was the powerhouse and Queensland the perennial also rans but it appears those roles have been reversed.

NSW entered the 1990's as Australia's dominant cricketing state. They won the shield in 1989/90, lost the next two finals and then won the next two finals.

After never having finished in sixth place, NSW did so for the first time in 1998/99 when they finished equal last. Their nadir followed a year later. Out of a possible 60 points, NSW ended up with 5.6. Their only points of the year ironically came with a win at the WACA after Brett Lee came of age.

Again last year they finished last.

In some strange twist, NSW's failure at the first-class level has not affected their limited overs game with them having won the past two titles.

After an infamous long drought, Queensland broke through in 1994/95. Victory followed in 1996/97 and they have won the last three. Another win this year would see Queensland become the first state to win four in a row since New South Wales won nine in a row from 1953/62.

What could be the reason for the reversal of fortune?

NSW always had depth and importantly had a great line-up of second-tier players who could fill the breach once the Blues side had been gutted by Australian call-ups.

With the retirement of players such as, Greg Matthews, Phil Emery, Brad McNamara, Wayne Holdsworth, Neil Maxwell and David Freedman, NSW do not have the depth they once did.

There was once a stage where the riches that NSW had were so overflowing that Adam Gilchrist could only play in the side as a regular batsman.

Seeing how hard it was to crack the NSW side, Gilchrist headed West. In the last couple of seasons, Jason Arnberger, Jon Moss and Graeme Rummans crossed the Murray and Mark Higgs went to South Australia. Before that you had players such as Greg Rowell, Paul Wilson and Stuart Karppinnen move interstate.

Simon Katich reversed the trend by coming to NSW from WA as NSW officials realised how brittle the batting line-up was.

Queensland now have the resources that NSW once had. In Martin Love, Jimmy Maher, Andrew Symonds, Stuart Law, Wade Secombe and Michael Kasprowicz, they have players good enough to be playing Test cricket but not doing so. Such being the case, Queensland becomes easily the best equipped side in the domestic competition.

Maybe the shift in power between the two states is no better illustrated by having a look at the 1993 Ashes tour.

With David Boon moving to No 3, an opening partner was needed for Mark Taylor. The choice of two came down either a New South Welshman or a Queenslander. The former was given the nod and flourished whilst the latter was relegated to playing domestic cricket.

After his Test debut he had a two year wait for another chance, played six tests and then had a three year wait before given the next call-up. His problem was that he couldn't convert success for Queensland into success for Australia.

Since being picked for the tour of India, Matthew Hayden hasn't looked back. After 13 Tests, he had an average of 24. In a further 20 Tests, he has doubled that to average 50.

Michael Slater is now struggling to make the NSW side.

NSW are facing similar problems to those which now plague the West Indies. The assembly line which seemed to produce great cricketers at will, has now dried up and it's anybody's guess how to remedy the situation.

There is no easy solution facing NSW but chances are, by the time they have solved the problem, Queensland will be looking for a new trophy cabinet.