But thanks to a move to Bathurst and a welcoming environment at Rugby Union Cricket Club he's found his spark for the game again.

Coad has previously played against Rugby captain Ryan Peacock in the Sydney competition and he's enjoyed the chance to play alongside him in a new arena.

And despite nearly two seasons away from the game it didn't take Coad long to make a positive impression in his first game of Bathurst Orange Inter District Cricket.

He hit an unbeaten 41 in last Saturday's opening round against Centrals at Riawena Oval, forging a 75 run partnership with Brad Glasson to help Rugby record a five wicket victory.

Coad said he's looking forward to more of the BOIDC experience following a positive start with the blue and golds.

"Being an Ashes and a Twenty20 World Cup year I thought I'd be mad not to play this year," he said.

"My family moved out here suddenly and that's when I thought I'd give it a crack. I thought I'd make the move to the country, and it's certainly a lot less hectic than it is in Penrith."

Coad brings with him to Bathurst 133 games of experience with the Penrith Cricket Club, including a pair of centuries across his last three seasons in the Sydney competition.

"COVID hit two seasons ago and I was playing third and fourth grade in Sydney. We'd made finals but then all of a sudden the association said 'That's it', and we'd finished third that year and given it a great crack," he said.

"You work hard all year, toil throughout the season, and then you're told that whoever finishes first wins. I had two years off after that, then mum and dad made the move, so I thought I'd give cricket a go again.

"It's great fun out here and it's certainly different."

Coad said the opening round partnership with Glasson was a great confidence booster after a lengthy spell from the game.

"I wasn't fit and I was on my haunches a bit but I really wanted to help the boys get over the line," he said.

"We were in a spot of bother if we'd lost another wicket so I wanted to knuckle down, and I told myself that the gaps were there in the field.

"I didn't know what to expect when I first came out here but that was certainly a confidence booster. Rugby have been so welcoming as well."

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