In the space of a month, one of Tamworth's fastest rising cricket talents has excelled during the under-15 national championships and then met one of his cricket heroes.
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Callum Henry was instrumental to the NSW/ACT Country team's fourth placing at the championships in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, giving nothing away as the team's wicketkeeper and contributing vital runs at No.7.
Test vice-captain Josh Hazelwood saluted the City United youngster's efforts, when they met in Tamworth on Wednesday.
Henry scored 99 runs in five innings at an average of 33 at the nationals.
Equally impressive was Henry's work with the gloves, allowing zero byes for the carnival to go with two catches and a stumping.
"I do work pretty hard on my keeping," he told The Leader.
"I was pushing myself not to let any byes through and to do that was pretty pleasing."
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The Carinya Christian School student has also enjoyed a successful year for City United, scoring 1240 runs with a top score of 100.
"A real highlight for me this year has been playing a few first grade games," Henry said.
"Along with playing in the carnival, that was a highlight for me as well."
Henry said speaking to Bendemeer-raised Hazlewood, in town playing for his former club Old Boys, was "very exciting".
"There's a lot I can learn from him and it was pretty good to hear some of his funny stories," he said.
Old Boys wrap up their two-day game against City United at No.1 Oval on Saturday, with Hazlewood set to play again.
Henry, 15, will now focus on applying the skills he learned during the nationals to his play at City United.
"I probably could work a bit harder on my batting and my keeping to be honest," he said.
"So that's something I will be really looking at for the rest of the cricket season."
Henry said he will also focus on his other sporting passions once the cricket season concludes.
"I play hockey in the winter months," he said. "It is a really good sport, it helps me keep my fitness and hand-eye co-ordination up, which is good."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
