Twelve months ago, Tasmanian cricket appeared lifeless.

The Tasmanian Tigers had just claimed their second consecutive Sheffield Shield wooden spoon following a horror 2016-17 campaign that saw them take just 137 wickets for the season.

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Our Big Bash team didn't perform much better, and our women's team, the Roar, finished second last.

Tasmanian cricket fans wanted answers.

In May 2017, Test legend Michael Hussey handed down his report on the state of the game in Tasmania.

He made seven major recommendations, the first being a complete overhaul of Cricket Tasmania's organisational structure.

With the retirement of long-time CEO David Johnstone came the appointment of enforcer Nick Cummins.

He arrived wielding a sharpened sword, and heads rolled.

Tigers coach Dan Marsh was sacked immediately with a year to run on his contract with Launceston-born former Shield bowler Adam Griffith stepping into the breach.

Operations manager Andrew Dykes and well-liked Hurricanes coach Damien Wright went soon after, replaced by South African Gary Kirsten.

Then champion Olympic rower Drew Ginn was brought in to head up high performance.

Tasmania's cricket team final home ground training session before the Sheffield Shield final. ( Instagram: CricketTas )

Courage to make tough calls

Tasmania's Sheffield Shield record Joined competition in 1977-78 season, finishing last

Joined competition in 1977-78 season, finishing last Over next 39 years, finished last 13 times, more than any other state

Over next 39 years, finished last 13 times, more than any other state Runners-up three times (1993-94, 1997-98 and 2002-02)

Runners-up three times (1993-94, 1997-98 and 2002-02) Champions in 2006-07 (team featured Ricky Ponting, George Bailey, Michael Bevan, Ben Hilfenhaus, Matthew Wade, Dan Marsh and Tim Paine)

Champions in 2006-07 (team featured Ricky Ponting, George Bailey, Michael Bevan, Ben Hilfenhaus, Matthew Wade, Dan Marsh and Tim Paine) Champions in 2010-11 and 2012-13

Champions in 2010-11 and 2012-13 Over the next four seasons never finished better than second last

Over the next four seasons never finished better than second last In October 2017, Tasmania dismissed for 63, the Shield's lowest ever innings total

Former coach Tim Coyle watched from the sidelines. He said the moves were brutal but necessary.

"I think any time you make big decisions and end people's careers you need to be brave," he said.

"It was never going to be easy.

"But, at the end of the day the organisation is bigger than the individual."

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Luring favourite son Griffith, who learned his coaching craft from Justin Langer in WA, back to Tasmania was the shrewdest move of all.

With his return came an automatic lift in standards from a batting group who appeared mentally fragile at the crease, a bowling group struggling to take wickets and with a fitness level not up to scratch.

Griffith noticed things weren't quite right at the team's first pre-season run at Hobart's Risdon Brook Dam.

"It took some time for the guys to really buy in to what we were trying to do," he said.

"I had my thoughts on what I wanted it to be, and there were some times there where I think it was a learning experience for a few of the guys on what I expected."

Former Tasmania cricket team coach Tim Coyle applauds the decision to overhaul the leadership and coaching ranks. ( Instagram: CricketTas )

Changes convinced Paine to stay

Team-wise, a change in personnel resulted in a culture change at the Tigers.

Matthew Wade's return home added vigour to both the locker room and the middle order.

Tim Paine, who had all but packed his bags for a job in Victoria, was inspired to stay by the off-season changes.

He chose to stay a Tiger, a decision which led to a remarkable recall into the Australian Test team.

"I'd pretty much accepted a job with Kookaburra and we were going to move over," he told the ABC in November.

"I'm pretty happy right now that I didn't.

"Some of the new guys coming in had confidence in me and saw what I could offer to the group, so I owe them a lot."

New coach Adam Griffith says it took a while for his new approach to be adopted by players. ( Instagram: CricketTas )

Cummins said it was the new guard's belief in Paine's ability that contributed to the decision.

At Tasmanian cricket's lowest ebb, Paine wasn't even being selected in the Sheffield Shield team.

"Given the job we had ahead of us around a rebuild, we needed senior people," Cummins said.

"I think once he knew he was required that really enthused him with some passion and belief about the program and it's amazing how quickly things can turn around."

Lessons for the national team

Performance issues were the driving factor behind the sweeping changes, but there are lessons our national set-up could learn from what transpired at Cricket Tasmania during the off season.

With culture problems seemingly plaguing the Australian locker room, Tasmanian cricketer George Bailey noted that putting the right people in the right roles changed the face of the sport in the state.

"The backroom staff have driven a big picture around improving and getting back to a consistent standard, culture, standard of behaviour, standard of discipline and standard of the way we want to be as people," he said.

"That hasn't mattered if we've won a game in three days or lost a game in three days — we drill down into why that is, and into our behaviours."

Bailey is considered the nation's most respected domestic skipper — it's why there were far reaching calls for him to head to Johannesburg to straighten out the Australians.

But he would be pleased Tim Paine had been given the reins, and ever the tough marker, he suggests its not Tasmania's locker room the national side should be looking at in the wake of the Tigers' loss to the Queensland Bulls in the Shield final.

"I'd be having a look in the Queensland locker room — that's the one I'd be searching into," he said.

Steve Smith, pictured at Cape Town airport before flying to Johannesburg. ( AP: Halden Krog )

Poor weather across the five-day Shield final meant Tasmania wasn't successful in its quest for title honours, and while the state's two men's teams played off in finals this season, the women's program is struggling.

Following another poor season, coach Julia Price was sacked, and well credentialed Englishwoman Salliann Briggs appointed for next year.

Cummins isn't done rebuilding Tasmanian cricket just yet.

"It's been quite a journey," he said.

"I guess the results of the men's program belie where we are.

"Things are looking really good but we've still got a lot of work to do to institutionalise that kind of success."

It's likely more change will occur this season as Cricket Tasmania continues its hunt for success, just how dramatic remains to be seen.