It’s shaping up to be a big year for Dubbo all-rounder Ben Patterson, beginning with his NSW Country debut at the National Championship in Shepparton this week.
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The cricket star was chosen in the team after his return to Australian following a stint coaching Sweden’s largest cricket club Stockholms Akademiska Cricketsällskap and said it was a ‘pretty big deal’.
“I’m representing Western Zone and all of NSW Country,” Patterson said.
“I’m going to try and enjoy it personally as much as any of the other players from the region would if they were in my position.”
He was selected following what he describes as a ‘decent’ performance for Western Zone at the NSW Country Championships. He made 139 runs – including 92 against Central Northern – and claimed five wickets at 21.2.
He said was looking forward to ‘observing and being part of a team of the most skilled cricketers that country had to offer’ at the tournament as well as pushing his claims for Australian Country selection. He will play both Twenty20 and one-day games and expects NSW to challenge for the title.
“We are the benchmark. NSW is setting the standards for the Australian championships which is pretty cool,” Patterson said.
“If I do well for the team, then hopefully the process will take care of itself.”
While he will make his NSW Country debut, the representative star was one of three from Dubbo who played in the winning team at the National Indigenous Cricket Championships in Alice Springs. He also starred for the Aboriginal XI in their tour of England and has taken on a head coaching role at Newtown Cricket Club.
Patterson was also named best batsman, best bowler and player of the tournament after his stint in the Swedish Cricket Elite 50 overs league.