Nelson arrived in New Zealand yesterday as part of the Australian under 17 Indoor Cricket team to play in the World Cup.

The sport started out as a way for the talented opening batsman to keep his eye in over the winter months but has become a serious passion.

ALSO READ Watch the making of a custom-made cricket bat for Dubbo conditions

“Indoor Cricket is my major winter sport now, I gave up footy to concentrate on it,” he said.

“It is always good to represent one's country and I have striven to achieve this goal, so I am pretty happy.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet that I am playing for Australia, but once I get over to New Zealand, I am sure it will.”

The under 17 Australian team will play two games a day over a nine-day tournament against England, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa.

Nelson said he loves the fast pace of Indoor Cricket.

“It is a high-intensity sport and I am expecting that intensity to lift to another level at this World Cup,” he said.

“I have played at state level for the last six years and playing the best of the best will be good. There are not as many breaks in indoor cricket, there is no way you can slacken off and it is a high-pressure situation when you’re batting.

“Every ball is competitive, in outdoor cricket you can leave a ball and let it go through to the keeper, with indoor you can’t, it is not just tip and run at this level, you have to be strategic in where you place the ball for a run. You have four overs to get runs and so you can’t play yourself in, you have to be on from the first ball.”

ALSO READ The 2018 Orana Relay for Life, Dubbo, supporting survivors, carers

The opening batsman is confident the Australian team will do well at the World Cup.

“Teams like New Zealand and South Africa are really strong, but I think it would be fair to say we are the favourites to win,” he said.

“Australia hasn’t lost in four years at this level, but New Zealand is a very strong team and we will have to pay close attention to them.”

Nelson said he is excited to represent his country.

“To have an Australian badge on, to represent my family and friends and the people of the country, it is a huge honour; I think the tour will have a good vibe,” he said.

“It is always a dream and an ambition to play at the highest level and indoor cricket has become an increasingly good pathway for cricketers who do well at this level to get to a high level in the outdoor version of the game. I play indoor because I enjoy it, but I think I am a stronger outdoor cricket player.”