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 former South Australian captain 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". This is an example of confirmation bias and Hookes' comment came at a time when, especially during the 1980s, there was a public perception that strong performances by non-NSW players were often ignored by the Australian selectors in favour of seemingly under-performing NSW players who were selected for the Test and/or One-Day team. The claims persist in spite of the fact that no New South Welshman has occupied a position on the National Selection Panel since John Benaud in 1994.
Allegations of this bias have been made by a number of past and present players, including Victoria's Brad Hodge, who claimed his non-selection in the Australian side was due in part to the bias.
Statistical basis
Statistics have been used to deny and support the bias. Deniers of the bias point out that many New South Wales players have suffered at the hands of selectors.
Out of the list of the top 50 run-scorers in the Sheffield Shield, the nine players who did not play a single Test came from every state except New South Wales and Western Australia. Out of the list of the top 50 wicket takers, the eight players who did not play a single Test came from every state except New South Wales.