Fourteen players will form the ACT/NSW Country squad to compete at the Male Under-17 National Champs in Mackay, Queensland later this year.
One of those is a member of Narrabri District Cricket Association side Western Imperial Razorbacks, 16-year-old fast bowler Dylan Smith from Wee Waa.
Dylan, the son of Brendon Smith and Bianca Mace, received the news when the team was named last Thursday.
Like the NSW Metro team, the squad was selected following the Under-17 State Challenge which was played over three days in Coffs Harbour and concluded on Sunday, August 18.
The side will be captained by Newcastle opening batsman Jack Hartigan and coached by Cricket NSW coaching and talent specialist for the Riverina and Western zone, former Blues off-spinner Greg McLay.
Male pathway and talent manager for Cricket ACT, Michael Delaney, will be the assistant coach.
ACT/NSW Country shared the title with Queensland at last year’s tournament after the final was washed out, and the side will be hoping to win the grand final this year
The squad was selected from the 26 players who were divided into the Country Sixers and Thunder at the State Challenge also involving the NSW Metro Sixers and Thunder.
Metro named its squad last Tuesday.
McLay said performances at the State Challenge in Coffs Harbour made selection that much harder.
“It is pleasing to see the depth of quality players now in the ACT and NSW Country regions,” said McLay.
Each team at the Under-17 National Championships this season will play four round-robin matches to qualify for the semi-finals.
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