A DESIRE to crack triple figures and silence the critics of his batting will be a key motivator for Nic Broes when he makes his Australian Country Cricket Championships debut in Toowoomba.
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It may sound odd given Broes hit centuries for the Bathurst under 19s, for his club side St Pat's Old Boys and the Bathurst High School representative team last summer, but there are still those who question his ability to capitalise once making a start with the bat.
Broes, who will line up for ACT at the January 3-11 tournament, is keen to prove those doubters wrong.
"There are people who think I can't make those big hundreds, so it would be nice to make some scores and contribute. I'd like to let my cricket do the talking," he said.
"I think the main thing for myself, is that if I'm making those starts, if I get that 50, is cashing in. Especially at the higher levels once you get to 50, that's what you really should be doing, that's where you get noticed when you make those big hundreds.
"No-one really notices you if you are making 50 then getting out. I think mainly for my own game I want to try convert some scores, make some big scores and prove some people wrong."
It is the first time in seven years that ACT has fielded a senior men's side at the annual tournament and Broes admitted he did not initially think he was a chance to make the cut.
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But after hitting two half centuries in his first three innings for Western District in the ACT Premier competition, selectors took note.
"The under 19s was the main goal, the main side I wanted to make this season. After I moved to the ACT I realised I had an opportunity to make this side and then a few rounds in I started making a few scores and getting my name out there a bit more I thought it was a better possibility," Broes said.
"But before I moved down there I didn't really think I was much of a chance ... this is by far the highest level I've played at."
The format of the championships will see teams playing both Twenty20 and one-day fixtures and though the ACT outfit might be lacking in experience at this level, Broes feels they are suited to that style of cricket.
That ACT will be underdogs is something the Bathurst talent believes will work in their favour as well.
"We've got a pretty powerful line up, a power-hitting side, so I think it should suit us a lot more than some of the other sides," he said.
"It's a good mix, plenty of older heads and some younger heads as well ... I think everyone is pretty keen. A few people don't rate the ACT Premier Cricket system, so it would be nice to show them what we've got and how good our top players really are compared to the rest of the states.
"It will be a good test to see where we are at, if we can match it and be competitive. I think that's our main goal - being competitive, showcasing our skills and backing ourselves.
"I think it helps take the pressure off because there are no real expectations on us, I think people will take us a little bit under-powered, but everyone loves an underdog. I think we are going to do a lot better than people are expecting."
ACT starts its campaign with a double-header on Friday, meeting Queensland then New South Wales.
