Young Tasmanian Tigers batsman and Glenbrook native Jordan Silk is enjoying the challenge of taking on a senior role in his team.
The 22-year-old began the domestic cricket season in October during the Matador One Day Cup by captaining the Tigers while Xavier Doherty and George Bailey were away with the national team.
Silk told the Gazette last Friday it was a great privilege to be asked by coach Rod Marsh to captain the team, and quite unexpected so early in his career.
"I had a little bit of practice for the role during the pre-season when we played a match against Scotland, just in case our regular captain and vice captain were not available," he said.
"But I didn't think it was going to happen anytime soon.
"To captain the side for four games in a row was a massive honour and a humbling experience and something I never really thought I'd do, to be honest."
Tasmania failed to reach the Matador Cup finals and lost its opening Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia in Perth, but bounced back with a convincing win over the Victorian Bushrangers in Hobart on November 10.
Silk managed to score only one run in the first innings, but batted magnificently in the second to finish 97 not out in a match-winning partnership with Jon Wells (47 not out).
The right-hander scored 10 boundaries to help the Tigers come back from a first innings deficit and in doing so was awarded the Scott Mason Medal - an annual Tasmanian cricket award presented to a player deemed to have shown courage and determination.
Silk said he was "extremely humbled to win the medal" and victory over the Bushrangers came at an important time.
"It was good to get a win after a disappointing loss in round one and we were pretty disappointed with our batting in parts of that game.
"We had a good chat about the need for the guys to put more emphasis on keeping their wickets and building partnerships.
"We were able to do that against Victoria, with [Ed] Cowan scoring a century in the first innings and me and Wells scoring runs in the second innings.
"I was very happy to get a big score and hit the winning runs."
The fixture was one of the first day-night Shield matches using the different textured pink ball as part of a trial by Cricket Australia, and Silk said he enjoyed it, although it got "pretty cold" at Bellerive Oval during the night sessions of the four-day game.
"We had a taste of the pink ball during training so it wouldn't be a surprise, but at the end of the day it is just another ball coming at you as a batsman and you try not to think too much about it.
"It definitely swung about for longer periods, that's one thing I noticed.
"I can say we'd [Tigers players] be fully behind it (day-night Shield games) if it ends up being introduced."
At the time of going to press, Tasmania was in the middle of its next Shield match against Western Australia in Hobart.
The next few rounds in the Shield will see many Australian Test and One Day International representatives return to play for their state teams - something Silk said he is looking forward to.
"It's great for the whole competition and as a player you really want to be playing against the best."