Will Lindsay is determined to make the most of his call-up to the NSW Country squad in the hope of playing at next season’s National Championships.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lindsay will be part of the Bush Blues side, along with fellow Dubbo representative star Jordan Moran, which will take on the Canterbury XI from New Zealand at Bowral’s Bradman Oval this weekend.
The South Dubbo star all-rounder, who is now in his third season back out west after spending time playing in Sydney, admitted he didn’t expect the call-up.
“I was thrilled. It’s not something I was expecting, that’s for sure,” he said.
“I had a missed call from (Western Zone selector) Neil Doherty and I didn’t really know why he was calling but called him back and it was all exciting.
“I’ve had a few conversations with Neil over the last few years and he said I was close to selection so to get it, it’s going to be something different, that’s for sure.”
The match is sure to be a testing one for Lindsay, Moran and co., with the Canterbury side to feature a number of outstanding talents.
The match is a two-day fixture played under Sydney grade conditions, meaning there is 96 overs per day.
The Mudgee product is used to those rules, having played for the University of NSW side for many seasons in the premier Sydney competition.
Since returning to the country, Lindsay has slotted in seamlessly to the South Dubbo and Western Zone side.
..you want to play at that level again and prove you can contribute and perform..
- Will Lindsay
He was a big part of the Hornets’ run to the RSL-Whitney Cup final last season while also being a key component of the Western Zone side which won this season’s NSW Country Championships.
“I guess it was a bit of a goal to try and be able to make the Country side after moving back from Sydney,” he said.
“So to actually achieve it is a great thrill and it’s nice to think there might be something more next year and another opportunity.
“As Jordan (Moran) has said, it’s nice to make it once but you want to play at that level again and prove you can contribute and perform there.”
Moran represented NSW Country for the second time this season and starred at the National Country Championships.
A century against Western Australia was the highlight and the Rugby man went on to gain selection in the prestigious Australian Country squad.
Moran will again be a key figure with the bat this weekend against the premier New Zealand side, while Lindsay is willing to take on whatever role he is given.
“It will definitely be different to the role I have week in, week out at Souths,” Lindsay said.
“I daresay I won’t be taking the new ball but maybe that first or second change and doing the hard yards there.
“It seems to be a role I’ve done pretty well, I guess, for Western Zone and it’s something I’m comfortable doing.”
Play starts from Saturday morning at Bradman Oval.