Bevan's coaching role with struggling NSW fails to happen
The former batting star's role with the state had been announced before the season
AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff
03-Nov-2023
Michael Bevan had a prolific career for New South Wales • Getty Images
Australian ODI great Michael Bevan's appointment as a coaching consultant for struggling New South Wales is over before it began.
The former Blues great revealed he is yet to be brought into the state set-up this season as their winless Sheffield Shield streak extended to 15 with a thumping defeat to Victoria last Sunday.
"It was announced pre season that I would be working with @CricketNSW as a batting consultant - to date, this hasn't happened," Bevan posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday.
"Given the timing, I feel it is important that the current coaches are afforded every opportunity to stamp their quality and be allowed to guide cricket nsw back to a position of strength within @CricketAus.
"Unfortunately this means, this year they won't be receiving the magical bevo "finishing" methodolgy (sic). Maybe next year."
Cricket NSW trumpeted Bevan's position in September following the embarrassment of the state's first winless Sheffield Shield season since 1938-39.
The 53-year-old, and fellow Australia white-ball great Shane Watson, were announced as consultants to coach Greg Shipperd, who himself was rushed into the top job midway through last summer after the axing of Phil Jaques.
Bevan was supposed to be acting as a batting coach, while Watson, who has been commentating in India during the World Cup, was given the role of mentoring and mindset coaching for players.
In a statement, Cricket NSW said: "Earlier this year, Cricket NSW announced that former great Michael Bevan would begin work as a consultant, working as a batting coach with the NSW Blues squad.
"Unfortunately, Cricket NSW and Bevan were unable to come to a timely agreement on commencing work with the Blues. Cricket NSW values and acknowledges the experience and skillset that Michael Bevan can bring and look forward to the potential of working with him in the future."
During a 50-over career for Australia spanning 10 years, Bevan averaged 53.58 - the seventh-highest ODI average in history - across 232 games. He scored 19,147 first-class runs, the majority of them for NSW.