Earning an Australian junior baggy green had been a goal for Tom Coady for a number of years but the moment he put one on his head still came as a huge surprise.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Dubbo teenager starred for NSW Country/ACT at the recent Cricket Australia Under 15s National Championship in Queensland.
His efforts there, highlighted by a brilliant grafting century against Northern Territory, saw him earn selection in the Australian under 15s squad.
RELATED:
"It feels really good. It's been a goal I've been working towards for a couple of years now," he said.
"But I didn't really have it in my mindset. I just wanted to play the best cricket I could."
Coady has continually improved through the junior grades in recent years and has met each challenge put in front of him.
Locally, he's gone from a young wicketkeeper thrown into the deep end at Dubbo CYMS to a vital member of the Cougars first grade outfit with bat and gloves in the span of a couple of seasons.
On the representative level, he's been a regular in Western and NSW Country teams but has stepped up with the responsibility that comes with that.
"I feel I've improved and my knowledge of the game has got a lot better as well," he said of his game in recent times, before adding he never just accepts he'll succeed.
"I still get a bit nervous from just wanting to perform and it's never easy," he said.
The wicketkeeper-batsman is now the second player from Dubbo in recent seasons to have earned selection in an Australian squad, with CYMS teammate Brock Larance having played for his country in both the under 15s and under 17s.
Coady will attend a training camp with the 20-man Australian squad at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane during July and from there the final group of 13 will be named to play at the Cricket Australia Under 17s National Championship.
The Dubbo teenager appears a strong chance to make that final squad after finishing as one of only two players to make a century during the 15s national carnival.
The knock of 115 from 139 balls was immensely satisfying for Coady, but also national coaches and selectors who had been keen to see the youngster be able to dig in and work the ball around.
"It was very hard," Coady said, hitting just two boundaries before his century.
"It was a sticky wicket and I had to work hard for my runs. I had to grind it out."
NSW Country/ACT finished fourth at the national titles but Coady said he felt his side, which also included fellow Dubbo junior Koda Sissian, had the potential to win the grand final.
The training camp is in July with the national 17s titles to be played in September and October.
Do you want to keep up to date with sport in the Dubbo region? Sign up to our daily newsletter here:
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
