After returning from a cricketing tour of the UK and visiting some of the most famous venues in world sport, you would think local fast bowler Ben Patterson would have nothing to complain about. But for the 17-year-old Dubbo College Senior Campus student, that is not the case.
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"The pitches were slow which was very annoying as a pace bowler," he said
"Short balls were out of the question so half my arsenal was gone and it was just slow and not as good as Australia."
But the negatives end there for the recently crowned Western Zone Junior Player of 2012-13 as he admitted he was ecstatic to be part of the NSW combined high schools tour.
The team played 10 matches throughout July, watched Simon Katich play county cricket, visited Old Trafford, St Andrew's Golf Club and Lord's and even sat in on day four of Australia's loss in the first Ashes test against England.
"It was great, we sat next to the Fanatics and they were just going off the entire day," Patterson said.
But while Ben admitted it had been the tour of a lifetime, his mother, Jodie, said it wouldn't have been possible without the support and fundraising of local businesses.
“I couldn’t be more proud,” she said.
“But we couldn’t have done it without the support of the town and his family.”
Ben, who also thanked Dubbo for its support, opened the tour with a match against the Scotland under-19s side and the Newtown quick said it all felt a bit surreal at first.
“I couldn’t believe I was over there playing in Scotland against their under-19 World Cup side,” he said.
“I took four wickets in that first game and that just set the tone for my tour.”
Ben played in seven of the next nine matches, he was rested for two, and there was only one match he went wicketless, highlighted by his 4/26 off six overs against the Scottish national side.
Now back at Dubbo Ben, who also toured South Africa last year for indoor cricket, hopes for another big season, with his aim being the local SCG Cup team and possibly even a place in the open Western Zone side.
However, this season will mark Ben’s last in the area as he has already agreed to join the St George club in Sydney once he has finished his school commitments.
“Last year I went up to Hurstville and played in the Bradman XI versus O’Reilly XI invitational match,” Ben said.
“I got decent figures of 2/9 off seven overs and Brian Booth (former Australian cricketer) asked me himself if I’d like to come and play for St George.”
Mrs Patterson said it was Ben’s dream to play cricket and there would be no stopping him while he chased his sporting career.
“He sleep, eats and dreams cricket,” she said.
