The New South Wales Blues have made the decision to cut ties with head coach Phil Jaques after a disastrous start to the Sheffield Shield and one-day cup seasons.
A statement suggests Jaques and Cricket New South Wales "agreed to part ways," with Greg Shipperd, who is head coach of the Sydney Sixers, taking over immediately.
Despite the fact only half of the season has been played in both competitions, the Blues have moved nowhere fast, winning just a single match in the one-day cup from five attempts, and zero from five in the Sheffield Shield cup.
The men in blue sit last in both competitions.
The decision to cut Jaques comes after crisis talks over the last 24 hours ahead of the critical clash at the Junction Oval with Victoria that starts on Thursday - a match that will see Adam Zampa play his first Shield game in three years as he pushed for an unlikely inclusion on next year's Australian tour of India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
It's understood that a review had already been scheduled for the Big Bash League break, but that it was expedited given the prevailing on-field results.
"Phil is an immensely passionate NSW person and has given his all in his time as head coach, but we feel that now is the right time to make a change," NSW's Chief of Cricket Performance Greg Mail said in a statement.
It has been confirmed that Shipperd will remain in charge of the Blues in a caretaker capacity until the end of the domestic season.
"Greg Shipperd's cricket acumen and his coaching record is well renowned, and we are very pleased that he has agreed to guide our Blues program while we take the time to understand our next move," Mail said.
"He has existing relationships with many of the players and staff and I expect his transition into the group, starting with this week's match against Victoria, will be seamless."
Shipperd, who is now 66, played 112 first-class matches for Western Australia and Tasmania, averaging 42.27 with the bat before moving into coaching, where he has coached in Tasmania, Victoria, and with the Melbourne Stars, Sydney Sixers and Delhi Daredevils in franchise T20 cricket.
