But when a call came through yesterday morning to inform him of his selection in the NSW Country side he had to answer it.

Moran and fellow Dubbo star Mitch Bower were named in the Bush Blues squad for the very first time and it was Bower who called Moran to share the good news.

“It’s brilliant, Mitch rang me this morning and I took the call, I probably shouldn’t have,” said Moran, before saying how much it meant to him.

“It’s very rewarding and I’m very proud to pull on that blue cap.”

Bower was equally thrilled with the news, saying in recent times he had made a real effort at representative level.

“It’s something I’ve been aiming for and it was a goal for the next two or three years and now I’ve done it and I’m stoked, I just hope I perform and get some good scores at the next level,” he said.

Cowra’s Nick Berry was also named as captain of the squad, further highlighting the level of respect Western Zone has within country cricket.

For both Moran and Bower this was just rewards after years of standout performances at both a local and representative level.

Two of the most dashing batsmen to come out of Dubbo in recent times, both will now be key for their state at the Australian Country Championships at Mount Gambier in January.

“It’s very much up there,” Moran said when asked where this ranks in all his cricket achievements.

“Playing in the juniors days at a high level up there but this and winning the final against Newcastle last season takes the cake.”

Moran, who has already scored three hundreds this season, scored a century for Western in that NSW Country Championships final against Newcastle, something which showcased his talents to selectors.

He followed that up with scores of 38, 58 and 25 at the 2015/16 Country Championships recently while Bower produced a classy innings of 90 on day two of that carnival at Wagga.

“I knew I was in with a chance,” Bower said.

“I scored a hundred last year and then the 90 this year and scores help so I was feeling 50-50 and it could have gone either way but they must have seen something in me.”

While both players were delighted personally, they were also pleased for each other with the pair having played together at Rugby for a number of years before this summer.

“I know how much hard work Mitch has put in too, I played with him at Rugby and now at Souths he’s doing the same and it’s paid off,” Moran said, before Bower praised his left-handed counterpart.

“Jordo has been knocking on the door for a few years and now he’s got across the line,” Bower said.

“He’s a great cricketer and scored a ton of runs and it will be good to have him there, someone in camp you know.”

The Australian Country Cricket Championships take place at Mount Gambier from January 2-12.

NSW COUNTRY: Nick Berry (captain - Western), Mitch Bower (Western), Jordan Moran (Western), Scott Burkinshaw (Central Coast), Mitch Coombs (Central Coast), Nick Foster (Newcastle), Kieran Gray (Southern/ACT), Tom Groth (Central Northen), Andrew Lindsay (North Coastal), Ben Mitchell (Southern/ACT), Justin Moore (North Coastal), Joe Price (Newcastle), Grant Stewart (Newcastle)