When the NSW Blues walked off North Dalton Park following yet another defeat in March 2018, it was clear changes were on the way.
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With the side finishing the Sheffield Shield in second last, coach Trent Johnston and a number of experienced players were let go.
Batting coach Phil Jaques was promoted to head coach, a move that raised eyebrows given the push from some quarters for fresh blood to lead the team.
The decision has proved a masterstroke, however, with Jaques leading the Blues to the 2019 Sheffield Shield final before an even more impressive 2019-20 season.
That season was set to climax with a return to North Dalton Park for this year's decider, before coronavirus brought about an early end to the competition.
Holding a 12-point lead on the ladder, the Blues were crowned Sheffield Shield champions, capping a remarkable turnaround since Jaques stepped into the head coaching role.
The Wollongong product was frank about what had to change when he took over the top job and he praised his players for buying in over the past two years.
"I knew what needed to be done," Jaques said. "NSW is a big state and a big job, there was lots to be done.
"Credit has to go to the players, especially the senior guys who are driving the changes in our culture.
"We made changes around players taking performances personally and living the values we all valued day to day and making sure our behaviour matched up with those.
"The players held each other to account. They made sure we're doing that as a team, trying to get better.
"I said at the start not to worry about wins and losses, if we get the process right, the results and wins will come. It's fantastic to see those results paying off now."
While leaders including Peter Nevill, Moises Henriques and Steve O'Keefe deserve plenty of credit for this year's success, the most pleasing aspect for Jaques has been the development of a number of younger talents.
Daniel Solway averaged more than 50 with the bat in his first Shield campaign, while bowler Harry Conway had a breakout season, taking 25 wickets.
Cricket NSW has been quick to ensure this year's success is not a one-off, the organisation announcing an overhaul of their high-performance operations.
The body will employ a new head of cricket, along with a number of new high-performance staff.
While Cricket NSW could be accused of making changes to a winning formula, Jaques is confident the moves will lay the foundation for a lengthy period of dominance.
"Any time an organisation reviews things, comes a bit of change and you do things slightly different. It's good we're making those changes while we are successful.
"NSW's aim is to be the world's best first-class team and we expect our players to play for Australia. We also want to win titles, to do that you need a lot of good players and good systems in place. The system's good now, if these changes make it better, I'm all for it."
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