Much has been made of the injection of youth into the Western Zone side heading into the Country Championship, but Central Northern will also be looking to a teenager in the northern pool matches.
Central Northern host the northern pool matches for the second successive season, with Inverell hosting three days of high-class cricket from Friday.
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While bush cricket stalwart Tom Groth will again be one of the side’s key figures, there is excitement around the inclusion of 17-year-old Jackson Gwynne.
The Armidale quick will make his debut for the region’s open-age side on Friday when Central Northern meets Central Coast.
The hosts meet Western in a potentially crucial final fixture on Sunday, a game in which Gwynne could well bowl to the likes of Western teenagers Brock Larance, Nic Broes, and Ben Mitchell.
“Just experience, see how the good players handle things and see what they do. That is one of the biggest things, and see how I compare,” Gwynne said of what he wants from the campaign.
“That would be the plan, to see what the better players do to be as good as they are.”
Despite being one of the team’s young guns, Gwynne isn’t phased about taking on some of Country NSW’s best.
“There are two others that are around my age so it is not too bad,” he said of his side.
“I am more excited than nervous at the moment anyway.”
Gwynne will also line up for the Central North under-18s later in the year under the guidance of two of his opens teammates in Groth and Tom O’Neill.
Ellen Dunger
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later on that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Always happy to hear news and tips. www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
Originally from the Blue Mountains, I spent my teenage years in the Riverina at boarding school before moving to Bathurst in 2012 to complete Bachelor of Sport Studies/ Bachelor of Communications (journalism) at Charles Sturt University. I started my career at The Blayney Chronicle in May 2015 and worked casually, one day a week at the Central Western Daily later on that year. I moved to Armidale in March 2016 to take on the role as the Northern Tablelands' sports journalist. Played a variety of sports in my lifetime including touch football, league tag, gymnastics, dance, cross country running and equestrian. Always happy to hear news and tips. www.facebook.com/ellendungerjournalist/
