NSW has lost one of its most promising stars in Jake Doran, and like so many before him his decision to move to Tasmania was based on opportunity and the fact a glut of established batsmen are already churning out runs in the baggy blue.
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The move has also sparked interest from Big Bash League franchises Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes, who are understood to be desperate to poach the 18-year-old left-hander from Sydney Thunder.
Doran joins a long list of NSW top order batsmen in Jordan Silk, Phillip Hughes and Ed Cowan to have left their state of birth to play four-day cricket for another state.
"There's a long line at New South Wales, and it might have been a few more years until I got that [Sheffield Shield] gig," Doran told Fairfax Media. "So my reason is to try and get as far as I can but learn as much as I can and I think Tassie is a good place for me to do that.
"Everyone's probably at the moment saying I'm moving for the money, but it's not that at all."
Doran's switch to Tasmania raises a number of questions about his wicket-keeping credentials.
He made his Big Bash debut against the Sydney Sixers at the SCG as a wicket-keeper batsman and has prided himself since his junior days as being a tidy gloveman.
But with Tim Paine and Ben Dunk settled at Tasmania behind the stumps, Doran's future as a keeper-bat might have to be put on ice.
"I haven't spoken to them [Tasmania] about the keeping side of things," said Doran, who has been a regular in Cricket Australia XIs against touring sides. "I'm still trying to pursue it...but batting is going to be my main aspect with cricket."
NSW have invested a lot of time and money in Doran, which made the decision to part ways a particularly difficult pill to swallow according to Cricket NSW Chief Executive Andrew Jones.
"The success of NSW cricket for well over a century has been built entirely on merit-based selection and reward, and our offer was consistent with these principles," Jones said. "However we were informed this morning [Tuesday] that Jake will not be accepting our terms."
Various reports speculate the offer from Tasmania was far more lucrative, but Doran said NSW and Tasmania offered him the same amount of money, but one had more cricketing opportunities.
"It's a big move for me, so I had to make sure I got it right and I was 100 per cent sure I wanted to go." Doran said. "It's about me getting an opportunity and proving myself to a lot people and showing that I can play.
"At the end of the day I'd take opportunity over anything else."
Doran knows a Sheffield Shield debut won't be handed on a silver platter. He is eager to score runs in the upcoming U19 series against England in Perth - which includes a four-day match and five one-dayers - before a reciprocal tour to the United Kingdom later this year.
