Ten months after becoming the most capped player in the history of the Australian Country Cricket Championships, Tom Groth will be hoping to lead Central North to an historic win on the Central Coast this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The zone has never won the NSW Country Championship title.
The missing piece of the puzzle for Groth, the long-time NSW Country gloveman believes he has a side capable of challenging for the silverware.
READ ALSO:
"We've got some good enough players to do well at this carnival," he said.
"We were close last year.
"Even though we didn't win a game, we lost to Newcastle by not much and we lost to Central Coast by not much and then we were outplayed on the last day."
"It's a younger team and a new group and hopefully we can just put in a couple of good days and see how we go."
Along with the national championships, the three-day carnival is one he always looks forward to and primes himself for.
"I really enjoy this rep stuff - it's a good challenge," he said.
"It's a good standard and it's a different level to club cricket, it's a step up, and it's a good way to challenge yourself."
Well into double digits as far as campaigns, he said seeing the young blood coming through and getting their opportunity does help too keep him motivated to stay involved.
"It is refreshing, and it's what the zone needs to do, bring these younger guys through," he said talking about the likes of Hayden Baker, Dylan Smith and Adam McGuirk.
While Smith got a bit of a taste last year, for Baker and McGuirk it will be their first time away with the senior side.
McGuirk has been in good form so far this season - he is s the third highest runscorer in the Tamworth competition behind the Rixon brothers (Brendan and Michael) - and will have a prominent role to play with the bat over the three days.
"He's been chipping away for a few years now, and he gets his opportunity with a few of the senior batters unavailable," Groth said.
"Technically he's good and he's got all the shots."
At the other end of the spectrum Andrew Harriott and Tom O'Neill will add some welcome experience.
Both are playing in the Newcastle competition, the latter joining Stockton for the 2020-21 season, but thanks to a rule introduced a few years ago will pad up for Central North.
"The rules stipulate that we can have two Central North-origin players that are playing in Newcastle," Groth said.
"It's really good to have those guys and it's good that they've decided to play with us. I've got no doubt they both could have made the Newcastle team."
O'Neill will spearhead the attack while Harriott will have an important role to play with the bat.
Groth himself hasn't had a lot of time in the middle this season as he has been helping his father-in-law with harvest, but is coming off a top-scoring 44 for South Tamworth on Saturday and said he feels like he is hitting the ball pretty well.
Central North open their campaign against Newcastle on Friday.