Jaques confirmed as Blues head coach

Former Test batsman Phil Jaques will mentor a young Blues squad after his elevation to NSW head coach was today confirmed.

The 39-year-old, who played 11 Tests and scored three centuries for Australia, takes the role after spending the past year as Blues batting coach fowlling a two-year stint as Queensland head coach.

Jaques inherits a side with only six of the 24-man squad older than 30, with 10 players under the age of 25 as the Blues look to rebuild for the future.

Following the retirements of veterans Ed Cowan and Doug Bollinger, NSW cut loose Australia T20 batsman Nic Maddinson and youngster Jay Lenton, while quick Gurinder Sandhu moved to Tasmania. 

In their place, NSW upgraded the five talented rookies in Jason Sangha, Param Uppal, Dan Fallins, Mickey Edwards and Liam Hatcher. 

Jaques replaces Trent Johnston, who spent three seasons behind the wheel at Moore Park.

"As a former Blues player I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to coach NSW as part of a new era," Jaques said.

"We have a number of exceptional young cricketers, many of whom have recently represented the Australian Under 19s, and I look forward to working with them so they can reach their full potential.

"Equally we have a senior group of players, many with international experience, who can play a big part in not only our performances on the field but also moulding this squad for future success.

"Patience is required as young players develop but this is an exciting time at Cricket NSW as we look to enhance the culture of improvement and learning and continue to be the leading provider of talent for Australian cricket."

NSW finished third in the JLT Sheffield Shield during Johnston's first summer in charge, slipped to fourth the following summer and narrowly avoided the wooden spoon in the season just completed, despite having won their first three games with the nation's Test stars in the side.

The side then failed to win any of their final seven matches of the 2017-18 JLT Sheffield Shield, and the former powerhouse of Australian cricket has just one first-class title in the past decade.

Reports on Friday suggested Jaques had been given the nod as the Blues supremo after former Test gloveman Brad Haddin withdrew from the running.

Haddin will continue his role as Bupa Support Staff assistant coach with the Australian men’s cricket team under new head coach Justin Langer. 

Jaques played 76 Sheffield Shield matches for NSW, scoring 5581 runs, 14 hundreds with a top score of 240 not out.