Hauritz picks up New South Wales contract

Nathan Hauritz's stop-start career has been given a boost with him winning a contract with his new state. Hauritz, who made his Test debut against India in 2004, slipped down the rankings at Queensland and played only one first-class game last summer.

Tired of waiting behind the legspinners Ryan Le Loux and Daniel Doran, Hauritz chose to move to Sydney last month and he will try to force his way into the Blues side alongside Stuart MacGill. The state has also recruited the left-arm wrist-spinner Beau Casson from Western Australia, and David Gilbert, the Cricket NSW chief executive, said Casson was their main slow-bowling addition.

"We did not want Nathan joining us under any illusions and he was comfortable with that, to get Nathan as well is icing on the cake," Gilbert told AAP. "Nathan certainly has got a lot to offer and he can really develop on a pitch like the SCG."

New South Wales also have the young spinners Jason Krejza, Steve O'Keefe and Aaron O'Brien to pick from. In 33 first-class games Hauritz, 24, has collected 59 wickets at an average of 47.79.