Western skipper Pat Rosser and Dubbo’s Tim Cox will be joined by Cowra quick Joe Kershaw, who will receive his first baggy blue cap.

Despite Western not winning a game at this season’s NSW Country Championships, the side was victorious last season and Rosser said it was always a privilege as he prepares to join the squad for the third season in a row.

“I’m really happy for the boys,” he said.

“After playing before I kind of expected to be picked even though I didn’t set the world on fire but it’s a real reward for Western and it’s great for Joey, and Coxy has been around a while and has done well.”

Rosser, who represented Australian Country last year, said he expected Kershaw, the 18-year-old Cowra tearaway, to impress in the nation’s capital next January.

“Joey will do well and he’ll thrive in that kind of environment,” he said. “He bowls good areas and he’ll learn a lot. 

“I think out here in the bush we’ve only seen the start of him, he’s just going to get bigger and better.”

Rosser said after playing with and against Cox since their days in the Sydney grade competition he knew the Dubbo quick was still up to the standard required.

“He’s hands down one of the best bowlers in Country NSW,” he said. 

“He’s an experienced campaigner and he knows how the process works to get himself up for a big game. Nine times out of 10 you know where it’s going to be and you always feel good when he’s got the ball in his hand because he attacks that off stump well and is always a chance of a wicket.”

New South Wales has won the Australian Country Championships the last two seasons, and Rosser said he expected the squad to get together for a camp in Sydney prior to the tournament where they will meet, train and play a warm-up match before travelling to Canberra.

“I believe we’ll be the strongest team there and we’ve got to perform but we’ve got a lot of motivation to win three in a row,” he said.

n NSW COUNTRY: Graeme Batty (captain - Illawarra), Scott Burkinshaw (Central Coast), Jonathon Cook (Illawarra), Tim Cox (Western), Nick Foster (Newcastle), Jeff Goninan (Newcastle), Tom Groth (Central North), Greg Hunt (Newcastle), Joe Kershaw (Western), Mark Littlewood (Newcastle), Simon Moore (Newcastle), Pat Rosser (Western), Dale Scifleet (Illawarra).