DUBBO’S Marty Jeffrey has continued his epic rise in NSW country cricket, being named in the U17’s ACT/NSW Country Academy Squad for 2016/17.

It tops off a long but highly successful season for Jeffrey, who played both juniors and seniors for club side RSL-Colts in 2015/16 and also gained selection in the Australian Indigenous Merit Squad, Western Zone opens squad, and junior Western Zone and NSW Country teams.

“Well I suppose it’s been a long season for me and to finish on a selection like that definitely pushes me into next season,” Jeffrey said.

“It’s good to know that you’ve made a squad and once you get your name out there you get a few contacts and start to go places.”

Jeffrey was one of only three Western Zone cricketers named by selectors, with Young’s Nic Hall and Bathurst’s Luke Powell also making the cut.

The 23-man Country squad will meet for three Sydney training camps over the winter before competing in the under-17 State Challenge at Coffs Harbour from August 19 to 21.

Following the carnival, a 13-man squad will be selected to represent ACT/Country NSW at the National Carnival in Brisbane from September 26 to October 6.

“Obviously there are some very good cricketers in the squad but I’ll just go to my trainings and put in 100 per cent every time I go to training,” Jeffrey said.

“But I think personally I’ve got a good chance of making the squad. I’ve got to put in a huge effort to get there but hopefully if everything goes right I’ll be up for nationals.”

The squad will work closely with Northern NSW Pathway Coach and former NSW Blues player Mark Cameron, and his Southern NSW counterpart Greg McLay.

Cameron is excited about working with the group in the upcoming season, after seeing what they had to offer at last month’s U16 State Challenge and Basil Sellers Country Boys Coaching Class.

“This is a very exciting squad with a good depth of all skill sets,” said Cameron.

“The academy will focus on a mix of individual skills and game play in a bid to assist these players become future champions for NSW Blues, Sydney Sixers and Thunder and ultimately Australia in Test, One Day and T20 cricket.

“There is a good mix of players with national carnival experience and players who are new to Cricket NSW programs and I personally look forward to working with each of them to help them achieve their goals.”

Jeffrey said was a great experience learning from the coaching staff, most of whom have played cricket at state, national or international level.

“Hearing some of the people they’ve played with, it definitely makes you listen more and take more from what they say when they analyse you,” he said.

“It’ll be very good to [work with] them.”

Nearly every state will feature at the under-17s National Carnival, alongside an under-15 Cricket Australia XI.

Selectors will be on hand, with spots up for grabs in the under-17 Cricket Australia XI which will play at the under-19s National Carnival later in the year.

While he doesn’t want to get ahead of himself, Jeffrey isn’t ruling himself out from going all the way.

“If I do get to play at nationals then that’s the next step to push for that Australian squad,” he said.

“I suppose it’s the same as making this team first - once you’re there you’re there and anything can really happen.

“You go to a carnival and some of the selectors have never seen me before so it doesn’t matter how much I train and how much time I’ve spent in the nets, all they know is what they see at the carnival so I’ve got to show them that every time they see me I’m putting in and getting results.

“It’s about making sure you put scores on the board. If I am fortunate enough to make the national carnival I won’t rule myself out