New South Wales selection bias
New South Wales selection bias is a perceived bias by selectors of the Australian cricket teams towards players from New South Wales. It was exemplified in a quote by South Australian batsman David Hookes who said that "when they give out the baggy blue cap in New South Wales, they give you a baggy green one in a brown paper bag as well to save making two presentations."[1] This is an example of confirmation bias.
Allegations of this bias have been made by a number of past and present players, including Brad Hodge, who claimed his non-selection in the Australian side was due in part to the bias.[2]
Statistical Basis
Statistics have been used to deny[3] and support the bias.[4] Deniers of the bias point out that many New South Wales players have suffered at the hands of selectors.[5]
Out of the list of the top 50 run-scorers in the Sheffield Shield, the players who did not play a single test came from every state except New South Wales and Western Australia.[6] Out of the list of the top 50 wicket takers, the players who did not play a single test came from every state except New South Wales.[7]
References
- ^ David Hookes, Wisden Obituary, 2005
- ^ 'Hodge lashes cricket's alleged NSW bias', Herald Sun August 27, 2009
- ^ 'Are NSW players over-represented in the Australian cricket team?', Where Science Meets Pop Culture, www.mrscienceshow.com, 5 April 2011
- ^ 'NSW Selection Bias: In reply to Snooker', This Will Hurt Me..., February 13, 2007
- ^ Martin Smith, 'New South Wales have been victims of Australia's selectors as well, disproving theory of Blues bias', FOX SPORTS October 25, 2011
- ^ 'Sheffield Shield / Pura Cup / Records / Most runs', Cricinfo The players were Jamie Cox (Tasmania), Jamie Siddons (Victoria, South Australia), Michael Di Venuto (Tasmania), Jimmy Maher (Queensland), Sam Trimble (Queensland), Daniel Marsh (Tasmania, South Australia), Dene Hills (Tasmania), Neil Dansie (South Australia), Trevor Barsby (Queensland).
- ^ 'Sheffield Shield / Pura Cup / Records / Most wickets', Cricinfo The players were Damien Wright (Tasmania, Victoria), Dirk Tazelaar (Queensland), Ashley Noffke (Queensland, Western Australia), Mathew Inness (Victoria, Western Australia), Joe Dawes (Queensland), David Saker (Tasmania, Victoria), Ken MacLeay (Western Australia), and Paul Jackson (Queensland, Victoria).