Five northern cricketers are in line to represent ACT/NSW Country at National underage Championships later in the year.
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Narrabri pair Ryan Meppem and Coby Cornish, Inverell’s Tom Scoble and Moree’s Paddy Montgomery have been named in the U19s squad, and Armidale’s Jackson Gwynne the U17s.
The final sides to contest the nationals in Brisbane in September (U17s) and October (U19s), will be finalised following further camps.
For Gwynne it has been a meteoric rise.
The young fast bowler played for Central North for the first time in the 2016/17 season and then earned selection into the Country Sixers team for last month’s NSW U16 State challenge.
His performance in that earned him a call-up to the ACT/NSW Country squad.
“I had never been to a Northern Inland selection before and now I have got through to this so it has all hit me at once,” he said.
“It is pretty cool but a bit surreal too.”
Of his experience in Sydney playing alongside and against NSW’s best young talents, Gwynne, who plays first grade for Easts in the Armidale District competition, said it was an immense learning curve.
“I found it a lot harder than around here, it was a lot better quality of batsmen,” he said.
“Strength and conditioning and looking after your body as a fast bowler, that is probably the biggest thing.
“It gives you a bit of a confidence boost, it makes you work harder to get into other squads which is pretty good, a bit of extra encouragement.”