Since he was in the under-12s this time of year has for Matt Holmes meant padding up at a cricket carnival somewhere.
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Initially with his Tamworth juniors side, and then in more recent years Central North, usually it has meant travelling either to the coast or south. But this year Holmes will be tearing in in home surrounds, with the City United quick part of the Central North side for this week's northern Country Colts carnival.
Tamworth is hosting both the colts and Bradman Cup (under-16s) with both carnivals - weather permitting- set to get underway on Monday.
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Holmes has his fingers crossed the rain will stay away, especially after missing out on playing at the Bradman Cup last year after the carnival was cancelled due to the bushfires.
"I really want to rip in because I didn't get that chance last year," he said.
The 17-year old is no stranger to the environment having played at both the Kookaburra (under-14s) and Bradman (under-16s) Cup carnivals previously.
One of a handful of players stepping up from last year's Bradman side, he is looking to the three days as a good development opportunity and good challenge.
"It will be great; it's a good experience and good competition," he said.
"You really get to test your skills."
And it will be great playing at home.
"You've got a bit more understanding of the grounds and all that so hopefully we actually get to play and can use that knowledge," he said.
Assessing his season so far, Holmes said it has been "alright"
"It started off well and then I got injured," he said.
Straining a small tear in his back, it kept him from bowling for over a month. Stepping up to first grade for City, up until then he had been regularly among the wickets.
Into his sixth season of grade, he said earning a spot in first grade was a goal coming into the season.
"I was working really hard towards that so it was a good achievement to get," he said.
He did a lot of work in the gym over the off-season "just getting the strength up" and also a lot of technical work "getting everything right".
It has so far been a good learning curve and he has been soaking up all that he can from the likes of Tait Jordan and Jack McVey.
Central North play Central Coast first-up in both age divisions with the colts at No.1 Oval and the Bradman Cup side at Riverside 3.
Day 1 Draw (10am start):
Colts: Central Coast v Central North (No.1 Oval), North Coast v Newcastle (Riverside 1).
Bradman Cup: Central Coast v Central North (Riverside 3), North Coast v Newcastle (Riverside 2).
