He's just 17 but Alex Crowther's batting skills have been recognised with selection in a representative side to play a match in Dubbo next Saturday.
Alex, from Wentworth Falls, will turn out for the Mitchell Cricket Council side, which is picked from the best players who compete for the Blue Mountains, Bathurst, Mudgee and Orange in the President's Cup.
Alex bats at number three for the Blue Mountains Cricket Association's Cattle Dogs. The BMCA is made up of cricket clubs from Faulconbridge all the way out to Lithgow, and the Cattle Dogs are the rep team.
Alex said his elevation to a senior representative team was "actually very surprising" but he took a break last year and it seemed to have paid off.
"I had a year off higher representative sport and my cricket has just got better and better. I've started to enjoy the game again this year," he said.
Alex has been playing for the Cattle Dogs since he was 15 and has learnt a lot from his more senior teammates.
"It's more the mentality around the game and how the older guys think of how to get a batsman out or how to score more runs. That's not there in junior cricket," he said.
While as first drop he often faces the quick bowlers, he prefers facing spin "because I enjoy coming down the wicket to them".
But his real forte is running between the wickets, which utilises his other athletic skill. Alex is an 800m runner and recently came second in the NSW All Schools carnival, which qualifies him to compete in the Australian junior titles next March.
And all while completing his HSC, which he finished last week. He now intends to do a personal training course and will apply for athletics scholarships to study in the US.
He has had a fairly good season in the President's Cup, with a top score of 79 against Mudgee, and also played for the Western Zone Colts last weekend in the NSW Country Championships at Coffs Harbour.
"It's good to have someone that you follow in your rep cricket. It gives you a bit more confidence to have someone to turn to if you need help."
He will have such a figure beside him in Saturday's match, with Cattle Dog teammate Chris Boothroyd selected for the rep team for the second year.
Boothroyd, a seam bowler, opens the attack for the Mountains team but will probably be first change for the Mitchell side.
The 27-year-old Woodford nurse has had a frustrating season, suffering a rib injury, but returned to the field last week. He candidly says his recent form hasn't been great but he played well for Western Zone in a trial match against the Hawkesbury first grade side earlier this year, which probably ensured his selection.
Cattle Dogs captain Andrew Killion said Alex showed great promise as a batsman.
"Alex was a pretty crash hot junior. He sort of mucked around for a couple of years but he has just matured a lot and got his act together. He has a helluva lot of talent."
Alex has also been selected in the Western Zone Colts (under 19 team).
The Mitchell Cricket Council side will be playing Combined Valleys in Dubbo on Saturday.
Alex and Chris will rejoin the Cattle Dogs to contest the final of the Presidents Cup against Bathurst next month. They are also in the semi-finals of the Western Premier League and still in with a chance in the knock-out Country Plate.