Daniel Rootes will be debuting for Eastern Suburbs Dolphins third grade this Sunday against Sutherland.

Rootes, 19, only recently returned home from a gap year in Europe.

On Saturday he returned to the crease to score 54 not out for Rugby, but after only a few short weeks back here in Dubbo he has packed his things and moved to Randwick to further his cricketing career.

The Dolphins had their first training run back from the holidays yesterday and Rootes said while he was nervous ahead of this Sunday’s match, he looks forward to playing in a tougher competition.

“I have been picked as a right hand off spinner for the side and I am looking forward to it,” Rootes said.

“At the moment I am pretty nervous, so it will be good once Sunday comes to get my first match out of the road.”

Rootes said he was happy to be playing third grade for Easts, and hoped to eventually work his way up to top grade.

“Ultimately my aim is to work my way up to first grade, but it’s just great to be able to compete in such a tough competition,” he said.

“It will take a lot of work to make first grade.”

Rootes said what he liked most about the Sydney grade cricket competition was battle for positions.

“Here you really work hard for your position in the side and the competition is strong,” he said.

Currently both Armstrong and Rootes are concentrating on getting their first match after the break out of the way and next week they will take up work with one of their coaches.

“For the meantime we are just going to do some work in a warehouse but eventually I would like to do a real estate course,” Rootes said.

During his time in Europe Rootes said he completed a season in the Essex competition which he described as a great experience.