When Ben Winslade’s older brother Mitch represented NSW Country at the 2015 Australian Junior Championships, his Cyclones side wreaked havoc on the competition – except against Queensland.
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The Maroons were the one side NSW Country couldn’t conquer, and they’re the one side Ben Winslade has highlighted as his Cyclones’ biggest competition in Mackay next week too.
His side faces Queensland first up as well, on Sunday.
“It’ll be a big first game,” Winslade said.
“It should tell us where we stand compared to them, and how we might go.”
After that, Winslade and his under 17s side face ACT, South Australia, NSW Metropolitan, reigning champions Western Australia and Victoria before the extra preliminary games and finals.
The 16-year-old James Sheahan Catholic High School student, who plays his Saturday cricket with CYMS, is confident his side can contend.
Individually, he’s just looking to take it all in and find his feet on the national stage.
“I’m going up there as the youngest player in the team, so I’m really just looking to get some experience. I’ll just be trying to help out and contribute wherever I can,” Winslade, a bowling all-rounder, said.
“Hopefully then I come back next year as one of the older boys, with more improved skills.”
Being selected in the NSW Country side is no mean feat, especially considering indoor cricket isn’t played in Orange.
Winslade makes the 150km trip down the Mitchell Highway to Dubbo once a week, just to get a game.
“I’ve been going down to Dubbo every Thursday with mum and dad, it is a pretty big commitment,” he said, explaining how he was lured to the indoor version of the sport.
“We had [the Max Shepherd Shield] in Dubbo a few years ago and we tried out indoor cricket for a night while we were there, I just kept coming back after that because it’s such a good game.
“Greg King and Dan French took me in and taught me everything about the sport so I should give them a big thank you.
“I think I’m starting to prefer indoor cricket to outdoor cricket, because my skills are starting to get a lot better, but it’s hard to choose between the two.”
Selectors will pick an Australian Merit side from this year’s nationals, next year a side for the World Cup will be named.
“I suppose it might (be a goal) next year if I can make this side again,” Winslade, also a rugby union star with Orange City, said.
Winslade is joined in the Cyclones side by Dubbo quartet Tom Atlee, Baye Wallace, Tom Nelson and Brock Larance.
- NSW COUNTRY CYCLONES: Ben Winslade, Tom Atlee, Tom Nelson, Baye Wallace, Logan Smith, Rhys Swan, Jackson Korn, James Britnell, Shannon Threlfo, Ryan Smoothy, Brock Larance