Kaleb McIlveen "learned from the best" to prepare him for his captaincy debut.
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Steering Central North Navy at the under-18 Pathway Challenge at Riverside 1 and 2 this long weekend, McIlveen is relying on the education he got from watching Test captains in action on TV.
The Gunnedah teen said there were a few things he could have done better, but was generally happy with his leadership.
"I think she'll be all right," he said.
Navy finished day two on Sunday with one win and a loss in the 50-over matches.
They beat North Coast Gold by 12 runs at Riverside 2 on Saturday, then lost by two wickets to North Coast Green at Riverside 2 on Sunday.
After Red made 196 against Gold (Cotter Litchfield top-scored with 74 not out), the visitors were dismissed for 184. Bowling leg spin, McIlveen took 2-30 off 9.3 overs.
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On Sunday, Navy were dismissed for 149 in the 33rd over (Oscar King top-scored with 40). Green then made 8-151. McIlveen was the pick of Navy's bowlers, taking 4-34 off 10 overs.
The 17-year-old, who attends St Mary's College in Gunndah, made his Central North under-18 debut at the Country Championships last season.
He said his improvement had "come naturally" as he honed his skills. "It pays off eventually, working hard," he said.
A former wicketkeeper, McIlveen thinks he started bowling leg spin at age 13. He was not inspired by Shane Warne to do so.
"I couldn't wicketkeep and I couldn't bowl fast, so I just bowled leggies," he said, adding that he would like to play grade cricket in Sydney while studying agriculture at uni.
McIlveen - who lives on his family's farm (it is closer to Boggabri than Gunnedah) - also opened the batting for Navy. He made a duck on Saturday and six on Sunday.
He is about to commence his second season of first grade at South Tamworth, having played first grade for Court House previously.
On Saturday, Central North Red beat North Coast Green by 64 runs at Riverside 1. Beau Parnell top-scored as Red made 9-211. Green were then dismissed for 147 (Tom Stacey took 3-19 off seven).
On Sunday, Gold beat Red by 161 runs a Riverside 1. McIlveen's good friend and practice partner, Adam McGuirk, top-scored for Red (41).
Red and Navy play each other on Monday at Riverside 1.
The Central North team for this season's Country Championships will selected after the tournament.
