BATHURST has seen its share of siblings lining up in different Western Zone age groups at the same time, but rarely have they featured in the same team.
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That rare moment will happen this week when Cooper and Bailey Brien line up for Western at the NSW Country Colts Championships on their home turf.
The in-form St Pat's Old Boys pairing form part of a large strong Bathurst contingent in the Western team which also includes Ben Mitchell (Sydney University), Tanvir Singh (Western Suburbs), Jack Goodsell (St Pat's) and Ethan Muller (Centennials Bulls).
The Brien brothers have not just been two of the strongest under 18s cricketers in Bathurst this season, but two of the best performers in an outright capacity.
Bailey was at his best to record his first Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket century (105) against Rugby Union on Saturday, and pushed his season average past 50 in the process.
He recently earned his first cap for his district side, smashed an unbeaten 88 for Bathurst in the Western Zone Colts Carnival and just a week later hit another unbeaten knock of 72 in Bathurst's big Western Zone Plate semi-final win over Blue Mountains.
Cooper Brien, at the age of just 15, achieved his first BOIDC half century this season and notched up a big hitting 132 against Blue Mountains Grammar in the ISA Cricket competition.
He began making big impressions last season when he finished with an average of 70 across all under 16s Western Zone competitions despite being a bottom-age player.
His match winning knock for Country in their Western NSW Under 15 Select Twenty20 exhibition against City was another highlight from 2019.
- READ MORE: Bathurst travels to Dubbo to take on Cobar in Western Zone Plate final
- READ ALSO: City Colts look to avoid winless record before Christmas break in meeting against Bathurst City
- READ ALSO: Ben Parsons will boost St Pat's Old Boys before the mid-season Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket Association break
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The younger of the Brien brothers said it's been great to experience a range of representative cricket.
"This is going to be a good experience. Going to New South Wales earlier this year was really great and it's been going well at club and school," he said.
"There's some big names in this team with Ben Mitchell and Brock Larance. It'll be great playing with them.
"Training's been going great, usually working hard at the nets maybe three to four days a week. It's paying off."
Bailey said the extra time in the field this season has been a big benefit for his game.
"It's been a bit more cricket than I was expecting to play this year but I'll take it. It's good to show off what our town's made of," he said.
"It's pretty special to play some cricket with Cooper. We don't get the chance to play rep cricket together much. It should be great fun.
"We've got a really stacked batting lineup. There's a lot of boys in this team who can bat anywhere."
The other places in the Western squad belong to Brock Larance, Tom Coady, Ben Wheeler (Dubbo), Lachlan Coyte, Harry McGregor, Hugh Middleton and Blake Weymouth (Orange).
Western begins their campaign on Monday against North Coastal at the Sportsground from 10am.
The hosts will follow up with matches against ACT Southern Districts, Greater Illawarra, Central Coast and Central Northern.
The Illawarra and Central Coast games are T20s.
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Alexander Grant
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
Part of the Western Advocate's sports desk in Bathurst.
