Gunnedah have doubled down in their successful youth policy from last season as they look to defend their War Veterans Cup title.
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Ahead of the side's second-round clash against Tamworth at Wolseley Oval on Sunday, Gunnedah captain Mitchell Swain has revealed that a conscious decision was made to inject the side with more youth.
He said Gunnedah's senior players wanted to help develop the games of more youngsters.
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"A few weeks after the grand final last year I sort of mentioned to the senior group that I'd like to try and get a few more young blokes involved again this year," he said.
That move will likely result in teenage quicks Ash White and Oliver Thomas playing on Sunday. The duo played in Gunnedah's opening round defeat of Inverell.
Two of the region's best teenage cricketers, Adam McGuirk and Hayden Baker, are among Gunnedah's young talents who helped the side break a long drought and win last year's competition when they beat Narrabri by seven wickets in the final are Wolseley Oval.
Swain said: "It [the youth push] worked really well last year - not just for the team ... but for the younger blokes involved.
"Hayden Baker, I think he played his second year of Bolters this year and is now playing first grade in Tamworth [with Old Boys] and going really well. Adam McGuirk, we all know how well he is going with his cricket at the moment."
Tamworth are coming off an opening round four-wicket loss to Narrabri No 1 Oval.
In Connolly Cup matches on Sunday, Tamworth play Glen Innes at No 1 Oval and Gunnedah play Peel Valley at Chaffey Park.
Tamworth's War Veteran Cup side: Jye Patterson, Simon Norvill, Callum Henry, Brad Redshaw, Landan Price, Joey Mead, Ben Middlebrook, Liam Rodgers, Jack Hamilton, Brock Ridgewell, Nathan Mann.
