New South Wales' determination to continue a policy of rejuvenating its state squad has been reflected in the announcement of its initial list of contract holders for the 2001-02 domestic season.

Amid a squad that still contains a nucleus of established senior players, the Blues have awarded berths to as many as three newcomers on their eighteen-strong list of full contract holders. An emerging quartet of players have also taken up so-called rookie offers made available under the terms of the recently-signed Memorandum of Understanding between the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) and the Australian Cricketers'Association.

The names not to have been previously seen on full Blues' contracts are those of Dan Horsley, Grant Lambert and Michael Goldsmith. Western Suburbs fast bowler Horsley, 28, has already made one appearance for New South Wales in the first-class arena, having been called up to join the team for its match against Queensland at the end of last season. Lambert, 23, is a polished all-rounder whose consistent form with Fairfield-Liverpool has made him a standout in Sydney grade competition over recent seasons. Goldsmith, meanwhile, is a 23-year old from Penrith whose skills as a right arm paceman and handy lower order batsman have, in the past, won him berths in various New South Wales Colts sides as well as among the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy's 1999 scholarship intake.

Another addition to this season's list is fast bowler Anthony Stuart. He makes a surprise return to the New South Wales senior squad following a three-year absence which also included a stint with the Canberra Comets, the ex-Mercantile Mutual Cup team based in the Australian Capital Territory. Stuart, 31, is a former one-day international fast bowler and even took a hat-trick in that arena in 1996-97. But he gradually fell out of favour with his state's selectors - and his career duly stalled - after a disappointing series of returns at interstate level.

The four players to have been offered the new rookie placements are batsman Aaron O'Brien, all-rounder Stephen Phillips, and bowlers Steven Coombes and Peter Wooden. All four have distinguished junior records behind them, although O'Brien is probably the best known given that he has recently been the captain of the state's under-19 team. Coombes hit the headlines earlier this year when he was included in an elite ACB development squad which participated in an eight-day training tour of India under the tutelage of former spin bowling greats Bishen Bedi and Erapalli Prasanna.

Players from last year's contract list who have either retired or have not been re-signed at this stage are batsman Andrew Sainsbury, all-rounder Matthew Betsey, fast bowler Simon Cook and spinners Gavin Robertson and Jamie Stewart.

Given that nine of the ACB's twenty-five currently contracted players come from New South Wales' ranks, the Blues have the comparative luxury of being able to field a bigger squad than any of their five rivals. By the time that the contract process is finalised on 29 September, there could potentially be as many as thirty-five New South Wales-based players holding 2001-02 contracts with either their state or national controlling body.

The list of players with New South Wales state contracts for 2001-02 is: Shawn Bradstreet, Anthony Clark, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Michael Goldsmith, Brad Haddin, Jamie Heath, Mark Higgs, Dan Horsley, Phil Jaques, Grant Lambert, Greg Mail, Don Nash, Matthew Phelps, Corey Richards, Graeme Rummans, Anthony Stuart, Brett van Deinsen.

Rookie contracts: Steven Coombes, Aaron O'Brien, Stephen Phillips, Peter Wooden.

ACB contracts: Michael Bevan, Nathan Bracken, Brett Lee, Shane Lee, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath, Michael Slater, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh.

© 2001 CricInfo Ltd