Jacob Ryan hadn't even made his first grade debut until the opening round of the Bathurst Orange District Cricket Association this season but now the ORC youngster has been selected in the senior Bathurst side.
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The 18-year-old is set to make his senior representative debut when Bathurst takes on Orange in a massive Western Zone Premier League showdown at Wade Park on Sunday.
Ryan is one of two debutants, the other being Angus Parsons, but he was picked in the squad for the match against Dubbo that was eventually washed out last month.
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Ryan said it was an amazing feeling when he found out he would be playing for the senior Bathurst team.
"I got a message on Wednesday from Matt Fearnley, asking about an injury I had. It was all good, so I said, 'I'll gladly play'," he said.
I'm just really happy to take on this opportunity.
- Jacob Ryan on his call up to Bathurst's Western Zone Premier League team
"It's really exciting. I'm just really happy to take on this opportunity, especially coming off an injury. I wasn't sure I was in the mix, so it was unexpected but I'm really excited."
Ryan had had a spell from bowling for a couple of weeks after injuring his rotator cuff, a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint.
The fast bowler was only playing second grade last season, featuring in that ORC grand final win against St Pat's Old Boys White.
He said the jump up to first grade has been unexpected but he said he's enjoyed the fresh challenge.
"It's been all unexpected, coming up from second grade and into first grade and now straight into the Bathurst team for Western Zone Premier League," he said.
"It's great. I'm really happy to have the opportunity to play.
"It's a pretty good jump up but in seconds, our bowling attack at ORC was really strong. We didn't find too much difficulty bowling last year, so the step up into first is really good.
"I feel like we're on par with the challenge that we're facing."
The ORC junior has just wrapped up his Higher School Certificate studies at Kelso High Campus just and he's no stranger to playing for Bathurst, having represented his town in Central West Cricket Council in under 12s, under 14s and under 16s.
Sunday's match against Orange will be the second round of the Western Zone Premier League, however, both round one matches between Dubbo and Bathurst, and Parkes and Orange were washed out due to rain.
In the other game, Cowra will host Parkes while Dubbo has the bye.
Play starts at 10am.
- BATHURST: Adam Ryan (captain, St Pat's Old Boys), Ryan Peacock (vice captain, Rugby Union), Jameel Qureshi (Rugby Union), Imran Qureshi (Rugby Union), Sam Macpherson (Rugby Union), Joey Coughlan (Bathurst City), Jacob Ryan (ORC), Connor Slattery (St Pat's Old Boys), Cooper Brien (St Pat's Old Boys), Bailey Brien (St Pat's Old Boys), Angus Parons (St Pat's Old Boys), Mitch Taylor (St Pat's Old Boys)
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