That still wasn’t enough to help Northern Inland win back the Baxter Trophy but it does put a lot of pressure on selectors to name him in the zone side.

A former Central North U14s captain, the 16-year-old was forced to miss last year’s Bradman Cup through injury, but could be back in zone colours when the Country U17s Championships are held in two weeks.

“I had trouble with my back,” Frost said.

“It was a bit of mystery really, but some kind of stress fracture.

“I played a bit for Easts but I missed the Bradman Cup.”

He will play for TAS in this year’s Armidale first grade competition after switching from Easts.

Those two sides were meant to clash on Saturday but the first round of games in Armidale was washed out.

The lack of cricket so far this summer makes yesterday’s unbeaten 101 all the more impressive.

“That was my second hit,” Frost said.

“I had another one in another trial against Hunter Valley.”

The Quirindi Sportsground is not the easiest place to score runs but Frost and Tamworth’s Ryan Hansen got on top of the Hunter bowlers in a massive second wicket partnership.

That stand reached 150 before Frost completed his ton and retired.

Hansen didn’t score as quickly but was also in great touch.

He finished with 72 before also retiring to give others a bat.

Campbell Baker (18no) and Toby Fox (12no) had a few overs in the middle at the end and helped Northern Inland to a total of 232.

That should have been enough but Scone local and South Tamworth recruit Riley Ayre led a remarkable chase.

He finished 107 not out as Hunter won by five wickets.

He and Logan White (36no) went “berserk” in the last 10 overs, said selector Kel Walls.

“They put on nearly 100 runs in the last 10 overs,” he said.

“They passed the score in the second last over.”

Jayden Park (29) and Jaymes Thomas (39) also chipped in while for Northern Inland Frost (1-20) added a wicket to his batting efforts and Tamworth’s Matt Dunn (1-32) and Narrabri’s Jake Brayshaw (1-30) also picked up a scalp each.