YOUNG’S Nic Hall is preparing to come up against Australia’s best Under 15 cricketers after being selected for the NSW Combined All Schools team.
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According to his mum, Rachel, it appears he’s the first student from Hennessy Catholic College to do so since Joe Kershaw made the Under 19s side two years ago.
The news came on January 24 after the right-arm fast bowler successfully trialled for the Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC) cricket team.
It’s something I’ve always wanted to achieve, so it’s a lot of weight off my shoulders, I’ve worked hard to get to this point.
- Nic Hall
He went on to represent NSWCCC’s Under 15s at a two-day trial at Campbelltown last month with his eyes set on being selected for the All Schools side.
And that’s exactly what he did.
He will now represent one of two NSW teams as they travel to Brisbane to compete in the 2016 School Sport Australia Cricket Championships from February 20 to 28.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to achieve, so it’s a lot of weight off my shoulders, I’ve worked hard to get to this point,” the 14-year-old said.
Hennessy Catholic College sports coordinator Brendan Croese described the selection as an “outstanding achievement”.
“It’s going to be the best Under 15-year-olds in Australia - it’ll be a great experience for his development in cricket,” Croese said.
The championships will take place over seven days, with NSW first taking on Queensland, followed by Western Australia, ACT and Northern Territory.
Students will be treated to a tour of the National Cricket Centre on the Wednesday, and the finals will commence on the Friday.
In preparations for the championships, Hall plans to continue training with the local S&C Blues team, and will travel to Sydney this Sunday, February 14 to take on the second NSW team in a trial match.
“I’m looking forward to the experience I will gain and the stories I can tell when I finish, and hopefully getting picked for the Australian side,” he said.
This season, Hall - who has been described by Young Junior Cricket president Steve Connelly as a hardworking and enthusiastic player - is also playing for the Young S&C Club Blues team in the Cowra A Grade Senior Competition.
He is also a member of the Young Under 16s representative team and Lachlan Council Under 16s team, which are the progressive representative levels for him being selected for the Western Zone.
“He is a great team player and even though his main skill - and reason for selection in most teams - would be as a fast bowler, he is a solid, hard hitting batsman and an excellent fieldsman, and has been known to field in every position from slips to deep in the outfield,” Connelly said.
“He is one of those players that is continually talking and pumping up the rest of his team when in the field.
“He continues to work hard on his own game, working with bowling and batting coaches to continually improve his skills and technique.
“I wish him every success that he works so hard to achieve in a game that we both love.”