There were some who questioned whether Henry Railz deserved to be called up to the Western Zone senior side for the Country Championships campaign earlier this month.
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How could a teenage all-rounder who can’t bowl due to injury be among the 12 best cricketers in the state’s largest zone?
Railz proved them wrong and was one of the more bright spots coming out of Western’s ill-fated tilt at the Championships crown and now he’s keen to make his mark in the Plan B Regional Bash.
Railz is one of a number of new faces called in to help the Outlaws defend their crown, starting this weekend at Orange in the Thunder Conference games against the Central West Wranglers, ACT Aces and South Coast Crew.
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The South Dubbo talent, who was part of the ACT/NSW Country squad at this season’s Cricket Australia Under 17s National Championships, hasn’t featured with the ball yet due to a back injury but has made his presence felt with the bat.
“The season’s panned out well considering I’m still working my way back to bowling and I’m a couple weeks off,” he said.
“It’s given me an insight on other ways to play the game. I’ve been focusing on batting a lot, especially in under age stuff like the 17s, I was there as a batsman and changed the way I played the game.”
While Plan B Regional Bash sides have to have two players under the age of 21, there’s no doubt the likes of Railz and CYMS star Brock Larance would have been pushing for a spot regardless.
Railz made a classy and mature 85 in the RSL-Whitney Cup earlier this season while Western Zone skipper Jordan Moran claimed the left-hander won the game for his side when making 26 not out from number eight in a high pressure situation against Central North.
“I had Outlaws in mind but as a bowler so it’s a big of a shock to be a week away from bowling and to be in the side,” Railz said, adding he was shocked to earn Western selection.
“It’s good news though and another opportunity.
“It’s not a team I’ve been around a lot and it seems a different group to last year but we should still go well.”
In terms of this weekend, Orana plays the Wranglers under lights at Wade Park on Saturday night before meeting the talent-stacked Aces and South Coast Crew on Sunday, Railz expects a higher level again.
“It should be a good experience and I’m just hoping for some sort of opportunity,” he said.
The winner of the weekend’s Thunder Conference matches goes through to the semi-finals against the Wagga Wagga Sloggers at the famed Sydney Cricket Ground.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
